Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Southern Kaduna branch,
has called on the Federal and Kaduna State Governments to urgently do
something to bring to an end the incessant killings and destruction of
property in the area.
Christian Association of Nigeria, called on government and security agencies to, as a matter of
urgency act decisively towards ensuring that these acts of terrorism and
persecutions were checked to ensure that there is guaranteed freedom of
worship and practicing of the Christian faith.
A press statement issued by Venerable John Bwankwot and Pastor
Michael l. Maikarfi, chairman and secretary of the association to
newsmen in Kaduna, Tuesday, said, “It is with heavy hearts that we now
tell the world that we have again commemorated another major religious
festival mourning the death of twelve of our beloved brothers and
sisters that were murdered in cold blood at Asso in Jema’a Local
government area of Kaduna State on April 15th, 2017. Others are in
critical health conditions following that attack.
“We are so troubled on every side that at a time when we were
supposed to be celebrating the suffering, death, burial and resurrection
of our Lord Jesus Christ for the sin of mankind at Easter, we were
plunged into wailing, the anguish of soul, bitter cries and burying
loved ones. Innocent souls were battered, their blood spilt on the
ground as they were sent to their untimely graves through unprovoked
attacks by people suspected to be armed herdsmen.
“Our zone suffered similar attacks last December when Goska community
and environs in Jema’a local government were attacked on the eve of
Christmas and scores of people murdered with over 80 houses in the
community razed down. Looking at all these happenings we are left to
wonder what all these mean.
“Apart from seeing these devilish works as systematic and deliberate
attempts to chase us out of our land, are they not also targeted towards
harassing us to stop practising our religion? In clear terms, we see
this as sheer persecution of the Christian faith in Southern Kaduna.
“As Christians, we are peace-loving people. We have a long tradition
of peaceful coexistence which is rooted in the Bible as taught by our
Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. We have also continued to stress to our
congregations the need for forgiveness of past wickedness done to them
by these enemies of peace and progress, and the need to embrace all and
live peaceably with them.
“However, these continuous unprovoked attacks on innocent citizens
where helpless men, women, youths and children are murdered by herdsmen
wielding sophisticated weapons have the potency of overstretching our
peaceful nature and tolerance level.
“The government has spoken a lot about the efforts it has been making
over time to curb these menace of unprovoked attacks on the
peace-loving and law-abiding citizens of Southern Kaduna. But for these
killings lingering right under the eyes of this government and the
security agencies that have been deployed to the area since these
renewed waves of violence from last year, leave so much to be desired.
“Apart from these ongoing attacks which are a war that has been
declared against our people, there are also some other dimension to this
systematic war which are equally terrifying and worrisome. In most of
our communities across the 8 local governments in Southern Kaduna, these
herdsmen have deliberately and freely turned our farmlands with
standing crops to their grazing reserves.
“Go to places like Pasakori, Kagoro, Gidan Waya, Godogodo, Tudun Wada
– Amere, Sanga and other places across our zone, you will see how our
farmlands have been plundered by these herdsmen. Banana plantations,
cassava, palm plantations, yam and other crops have been cleared by
their cattle. Sometimes these herdsmen usually cut these cash crops down
or uproot them for their cattle to feed on. Can you imagine the kind of
hunger that is being programmed for the whole of Southern Kaduna by
these ungodly practices?
“At least, some of our people rear goats, pigs and other domestic
animals too. But we do not let our animals roam to the point that they
go into our neighbours standing crops and destroy them. And we cannot do
anything to harm the herdsmen cattle either. Therefore, we call on
government, security agencies and the leadership of Miyetti Allah Cattle
Breeders Association (MACBAN) in Kaduna state and other organizations
to urgently see to it that these atrocities and evil acts of wickedness
are halted.
“Like our people do, these herdsmen may have to go to places where
they can buy land and establish cattle ranches for themselves. We say
this not because we don’t want them around us, but because of their
constant unprovoked attacks on our people and also being aware of the
fact that in core northern states like Kano, Katsina and other places,
these herdsmen are not allowed to go about grazing their cattle freely
and destroying crops. So, why must it be so in Southern Kaduna?
“Most of our people that were attacked are yet to return home in many
of our communities. This is either because their houses have been burnt
down or the roofing sheets, doors, windows and other useful properties
have been removed and carted away by the attacking herdsmen and their
collaborators, or for the fear of being attacked if they return home.
With all these happenings over time, there are more fears of further
attacks, death and severe hunger looming over Southern Kaduna. No one is
feeling safe at all.”