Kaduna: CAN wants perpetrators of violence sanctioned

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has urged both the Federal and the Kaduna state governments to rise up to the challenge of checkmating killings in the state by bringing masterminds to book.

President of CAN, Dr. Samson Ayokunle, on Sunday in a statement, expressed shock and sadness over the two weeks of tragedy and disaster that had led to the killing of a paramount ruler, the Agom Adara, Dr. Maiwada Raphael Galadima, leading to the state government to reinstate a 24-hour curfew last Friday in Kaduna metropolis and environs.

He said while it is believed that about 100 lives were lost between last week Thursday and last Monday, the Police and the State Emergency Management Agency have reportedly put the number of the death at 78.

“CAN commiserates with the government and the people of Kaduna State, especially the Adara Chiefdom over the tragedy and pray to God to comfort all the bereaved and heal those who are recuperating in the hospitals and homes. CAN is surprised to note the unending killings in the country, especially the response of the Federal and State governments with the security agencies to the menace.

“We have it on a good authority the killings going on in Adamawa, Benue and Plateau states in the last two years have been going unchecked as if nothing unusual is happening? Many were even unreported. This is a sad commentary on the part of the government. Are those hoodlums better equipped and more organised by our security agencies?” Ayokunle said in the statement signed on his behalf by his spokesman, Pastor Adebayo Oladeji.

He urged the political class to stop politicizing the killings and for both state and Federal Governments to stop rationalizing the mass killings of innocent Nigerians but sanction those responsible for the bloodsheds.

While commending the state government for reviewing the curfew on Sunday afternoon for people to access food and other items, he call a total overhauling of the security agencies with a view to replacing all the security chiefs.

He therefore called for the implementation of all White papers on ethno-religious uprisings, immediate trials of those apprehended for the killings in Southern Kaduna two years ago and prosecution of those responsible for the killings in the Northcentral zone among others.