CHRISITIANS of various denominations on Sunday in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital and other major towns abandoned normal church services and took to the streets in mass protest against killings in parts of the country.The placard-carrying protesters who trooped out in their numbers, under the leadership of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), said they were tired of the incessant killing of fellow Christians in the Middle Belt of Benue and North-Eastern part of the country.
According to the association which carried out the mass protest under heavy security mounted by a joint patrol of men of the Nigeria police and Civil Defence Corps, said the current trend could lead to another civil war if not curtailed in good time.
CAN also be warned that such a negative stance may cause “total collapse of the country” if not nipped in the bud early enough.
Some churches witnessed low turn-out of worshippers as many abandoned service in preference for the protest which however began at about 2 pm.
Led by the state Chairman of CAN, Rev. Joshua Orikogbe and other top church leaders, Christian faithful and hordes of the association’s chairman and top officers in all the16 local government areas of the state, the association called on President Muhammadu Buhari to act swiftly by stopping the menace and bring the culprits to book.
This was aside their protests carried out in the early hours if the morning by various individual churches such s Gospel Faith Mission International, (GOFANMIT) and the Baptist Church among other denominations.
The protesting Christians marched from CAN State headquarters at Ori Apata area of the state capital to the popular Adekunle Fajuyi Memorial Park, before ending it all at the Government House where they sent a letter to the president through Governor Ayo Fayose.
The CAN chairman said: “We are for peace in Nigeria but it is like we are being pushed to the wall by these wanton killings of Christians and clerics
“To us in Ekiti CAN, the only way to sustain peace is for the government of the day at the federal level to abandon politics for some time and focus the needed attention on security and safety of lives.”
Governor Fayose whose Special Adviser on Religious Matters, Pastor Seyi Olusola received the protesters on behalf of the government, commended them for carrying out their protest in a peaceful manner.
The governor promised to transmit their grievances to the appropriate federal authorities for consideration and action.
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