Banditry: Swallow your pride, you’ve failed people, CAN tells El-Rufai

Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has called on Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, to swallow his pride and accept that the fact he has failed to halt the wanton killings, kidnappings and terrorist activities going on in the state.

CAN Chairman, Kaduna State Chapter, Reverend John Joseph Hayab, disclosed this in a statement on Monday, telling El-rufai and his team to focus on the fight and salvage the state so that he would be remembered for good after leaving office.

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The CAN statement is coming on the heels of the breakdown of law and order in the Southern part of the state.

Hayab said the continued killings, kidnappings and banditry in the state without any substantial action by the government and security forces were disturbing.

He said, “How long will this evil continue and when will our leaders act dutifully?  Kaduna State citizens are tired of government’s rhetorical responses without concrete action taken to protect lives and property.

“Accordingly, we want to hear and see the killers and kidnappers arrested as the government’s usual media condemnation whenever there is havoc is not good enough.

“Meanwhile, we appeal to citizens to also wake up and do the needful, protecting their lives and community. When a government fails to protect you, you ought to find a means of defending yourself.

“For the records, Kaduna State has lost several lives in the past four years while the leaders scarcely show empathy or concern for the victims seeing that the government’s response is usually in the media. Sadly, the dead cannot read nor listen to the news.

“Then of what use is media condemnation? CAN, therefore, calls on the Kaduna State Government to swallow her pride and accept that she has failed the people, genuinely seeking help to immediately halt the wanton killings, kidnappings, and terrorist activities going on in the state.

“Governor El-rufai and his team should focus on the fight to salvage the state so that he will be remembered for good when he leaves office.”