Address Almajiri system to end terrorism, CAN tells FG

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has warned that the insecurity in the country, especially in the northern region will not end soon unless the Almajiri phenomenon is addressed.

The Chairman of CAN in Imo State, Rev Eches Divine Eches, said this on Thursday in Abuja, ahead of the 45th anniversary and Founder’s Day slated for Friday in Owerri, Imo State.

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He also urged the government to caution popular Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmed Gumi, over his utterances.

Eches argued that Gumi’s comments have been promoting banditry in the north.

He said, “You can’t have Almajiri system of life and government in the last 40 years in our nation bringing up people without a trace to families, hometowns or nationalities.

“They are scattered all over the street, without you knowing that someday they will leave the street and go to the bush where they will begin to do kidnappings.

“You can’t, in a sane nation, have the likes of Gumi, a religious scholar, going about promoting banditry and you don’t think that this will continue.

“Yet, that is what we are seeing today. We are not seeing anything more than what we have planted.”

Eches said the programme was important in remembering the labour of past heroes, including over 250 retired church leaders and indigent youth and women across the 27 LGAs in Imo State, who were weak and retired.

“They laboured to bring to bear what we are enjoying and working on today.

“We thought it very necessary to remember the weak among us as most of them are passing through terrible times, especially in such a time as this in our nation.

“I want to also commend the Executive Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodinma, who in his magnanimity provided and partnered with the church for the resources to get this done.

“So, we thought it very important that we will use this 45th anniversary of our Founders’ Day to celebrate such a people and remember their labours, and say to them ‘you deserve to be celebrated’ both by cash and gift,” he said.