Specifically, CAN said it had information that the attacks were being targeted at Southern Kaduna towns to include Gumel, Dagwarga, Daddu, Mariri, Kagoro, hotels, Open University, and other soft targets across the country.
CAN’s position contained in a statement signed by Special Assistant (Media and Communications) To CAN President, His Eminence, Rev Dr Samson Ayokunle, Mr Adebayo Oladeji, said it was high time President Muhammadu Buhari to put the security agencies on red alert to avoid a recurrence of the attacks in Plateau state.
Though the association, described the promise of Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo that the perpetrators of the Plateau attacks will not escape justice as reassuring, CAN called on security agencies to be more proactive in their duties, rather than mobilizing troops after attacks had been carried out.
Bemoaning the death of hundreds of Christians in the Plateau attacks among others, CAN described as embarrassing the failure of the federal government to apprehend, arraign and convict any of the perpetrators, over the years.
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Furthermore, CAN reiterated its call on President Buhari to replace all security chiefs and the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, for not living up to their duties of ensuring the security of lives and properties of Nigerians.
The statement read, in parts, “The attention of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has been drawn to a planned wave of attacks to be unleashed on Southern Kaduna and other areas dominated by Christians in some states of the Middle Belt region.
“Specifically, CAN has been informed that some of these planned attacks are targeted at Southern Kaduna Chiefdoms and towns that include Gumel, Dagwarga, Daddu, Mariri, Kagoro, hotels, Open University and other soft targets, among others.
“While we are prone to dismiss these planned attacks as products of figments of imagination, we are, however, constrained to call the attention of President Muhammadu Buhari and other security agencies to be aware and take precautionary measures.
“Having witnessed unprecedented human carnage on the Plateau, we call on President Buhari to place the security agencies on red alert in order to avoid a similar recurrence.
“CAN calls on all security agencies to wake up to their constitutional responsibilities of protecting lives and property. We urge them to be pro-active in doing their jobs. Mobilising troops and policemen after the havoc has been done does not make sense. A government that cannot protect the citizens is a failed government.
“CAN is, once again calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to replace all the security chiefs and the Inspector General of Police because they have overstayed their welcome. It is ridiculous and embarrassing that in the last three years, none of these criminals has been apprehended, detained, arraigned and convicted. This is what is emboldening them to kill the innocent with impunity. We are approaching a state of anarchy faster than we can imagine. Why are we following the footpath of Rwanda daily with these unprecedented killings and mass burials when we are not at war?
and then