CAN president seeks international community’s intervention over violence in Nigeria

The Nigerian Baptist Convention has sought the assistance of the international community in the violence in Nigeria and what the body described as “the ongoing persecution Christians are facing in the country. “

The church, in a statement made available to newsmen, said it was not happy with the way the Federal Government had been handling the security situation of the country in the past few years which it said has made Christians more vulnerable to constant attacks from Boko Haram and herdsmen.

President of the Nigerian Baptist Convention and Christian Association of Nigeria, Reverend (Dr) Supo Ayokunle, who was reacting to the security situation in the country, condemned the attitude of the Federal Government to the rescue of Christians who are under the captivity of the Boko Haram and other terrorist groups in the country.

A release signed by the Public Relations Officer of the Nigerian Baptist Convention, Pastor Eben Durodola, said the Federal Government was not “doing enough to save lives of Christians that are being killed everyday by Boko Haram and other terrorist groups in Nigeria.”

Ayokunle, who expressed displeasure at the way the military and other security personnel are handling security situation in Nigeria, said if urgent and new method are not adopted, only God knows what will happen in the months to come.

“I cannot continue to keep quiet when Christians are being killed, maimed and attacked on a daily basis without any justification while those who are expected to protect lives and property of citizen are not doing enough.

“The chairman of Christian Association in Adamawa State who was murdered by Boko Haram could have been rescued if the Federal Government showed enough interest. We have been crying for the rescue of Leah Sharibu and others in the captivity of Boko Haram without any meaningful action from the government,” he said.

“CAN has declared three days of prayer and fasting to save Nigeria and Christians in particular from being consume by insurgents, Islamic terrorists, bandits, kidnappers and ritualistic all over our states. The fasting and prayer is January 31- 2nd of February 2020 and every local church is expected to conduct the prayer in the evening for more participation of members.

Rev Ayokunle therefore urged Christians in the country to observe the national prayer by Christians Association of Nigeria in all our churches for God intervention in the worst security situation we are experiencing in Nigeria.