The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has expressed disappointed at the spate of murder in three Local Government Areas of Plateau State by herdsmen.
Pastor Adebayo Oladeji, Special Assistant on Media to CAN President, Rev Dr. Samson Olasupo Ayokunle, in a statement on Monday stated that the killings were an indictment of the Secret Service and the Nigerian Army.
The body lamented that despite assurances and promises by President Muhammadu Buhari that his government was committed to safety of lives and property, coordinated and premeditated attacks on Plateau towns were continuing.
It said: “CAN is at a loss how scores of people can be killed without any form of resistance by soldiers deployed to contain the security challenge. How could dare devil criminals assault communities without resistance by security agencies to stop these killings. Are these herdsmen in bed with soldiers to unleash mayhem on these peaceful communities?
“Of what relevance is the intelligence gathering by the Department of State Services (DSS) and other security agencies? If communities can be attacked and hundreds slaughtered without security organisations providing rescue efforts, then, it becomes obvious that the Nigeria’s security system has been compromised. From all indications, these attacks on the Plateau clearly show that the Federal Government needs to review its security machinery in a bid to make it effective.
“Considering the level of human carnage of these attacks, we once again call on government not to rest on its oars until these criminals are brought to book as promised.
“CAN and relations of victims of these attacks need more than assurances and promises of tracking down these criminals by the President. Much as these assurances are needed; they have become irrelevant in the face of incessant attacks that have claimed the lives of thousands of Christians.
“Against the backdrop of the wave of attacks on innocent citizens, CAN has come to the conclusion that the Federal Government has been overwhelmed by the current security challenges. We once again call on the United Nations, Commonwealth of Nations and the African Union, among others, to assist the Nigerian government to protect us against these criminals.
“While we continue to pray for the peace of our nation, we are, however, constrained to call on the Federal Government to respond to our fears over the alleged recruitment of former members of Boko Haram into the nation’s military and paramilitary formations.
“While CAN commends the Federal Government in embarking on the de-radicalisation programme for the former Boko Haram fighters, we are quick to advise that they should not be recruited into any of the nation’s military and paramilitary organisations.”
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