The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Kaduna State chapter, has called on government at both Federal and states levels to be humble and admit they have failed to provide adequate security to the people they are governing.
This was even as they called on both governments to seek help somewhere from whoever that can help in solving the security challenges facing the country especially the North.
In a statement titled ‘Stop the mass killings in the North’ issued to newsmen in Kaduna and signed by the CAN chairman, Rev Joseph Hayab noted with sadness the incessant mass killings and the increasing insecurity in the north, especially in Kaduna, Katsina, Sokoto and Borno State, and indeed the country at large.
The statement said, ‘In the last few weeks, hundreds of people have been killed by the Boko Haram bandits and bandits who are invading communities and unleashing mayhem on the people.
‘Our security agencies appear to be overwhelmed and lack new tactics to handle the situation.
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‘Both the states and federal governments seem to be shying away from the reality of the problem and appear to be living in self-denial while people are being massacred by criminals.
‘People are now living in perpetual fear as they are not safe on the highways and even in their homes. Rural communities are being invaded by bandits and farmers cannot go to their farms for fear of being killed or being abducted for ransom by gunmen.
‘For us as a religious body, this country belongs to all Nigerians and our leaders must listen to the cries of Nigerians about the continuous declining security situation.
‘The protection of lives and property of the citizenry is a constitutional responsibility of governments all over the world. Our government must, therefore, live up to this responsibility by tackling the present state of insecurity across the country.
According to the CAN chairman, there is a need for our leaders to do an honest stock-taking of the situation in our country.
‘We need to check where we have gone wrong and what are those things we are doing that we need to do better.
‘Many lives are being wasted almost on a daily basis by Boko Haram and bandit. People are being abducted and killed by kidnappers because they could not pay the huge ransom demanded by the hoodlums.
‘For instance, in Kaduna State, the security challenges in Chikun, Kajuru, Kauru, Zangon Kataf, Birnin Gwari have continued to be a serious source of worry.
‘Sadly people are experiencing these challenges at the time of an increase in hunger, economic hardship and fear of COVID-19. These pains are too much for the citizens to continue to bear.
‘Our leaders should be humble enough to admit that they have failed the people and seek for help from whoever and wherever it will come.
‘It will be good for those in government to know that people are not buying the many propaganda’s that are been circulating on some media platforms about the security challenges.
‘How can you tell the person whose family members, had been killed by bandits or terrorists that “you are on top of the situation”, yet the killings continues unabated!
‘if you are truly on top of the situation, these mindless killings and destructions should have stopped.
‘CAN wonders how our government and security agencies always use this phrase without shame.
We are calling on those twisting facts about the security situation in the country, particularly in the north to desist from that because we can never get true healing when we keep saying what is not true about our illness.
