The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) says it is “unprecedented and acceptable” for 43 persons to be killed in one fell swoop and buried without Nigeria being in a full-scale war.
CAN President, Revd. Samson Ayokunle stated this in a Friday statement signed by his Special Assistant (Media and Communications), Pastor Adebayo Oladeji.
He was reacting to last Saturday’s massacre of 43 rice farmers in Zabarmari, Jere local government area of Borno State by Boko Haram.
“We are shocked, disturbed, saddened to learn that criminals suspected to be terrorists invaded the Garin Kwashebe community and murdered innocent farmers while harvesting their products.
“As usual, the number of the deceased gruesomely murdered remains disputed by the Federal Government. To us at CAN, 43 was not only frightening but inexcusable by those who should have prevented it. The massacre was wicked and completely satanic,” he said.
Ayokunle added that the killing was a sign that the federal government had failed in its responsibility to protect lives and properties of Nigerians.
He noted that the Christian body would continue to pray against the collapse of the country, alleging that Nigeria was now “swallowing” its citizens instead of protecting them.
The statement read, “A situation where farmers are being taxed by the terrorists and bandits before they are allowed to work on their farms is unprecedented and it must be stopped by the government before it is too late. We are in a recession in the country, yet, criminals are still preventing farmers from going to farm to harvest. We are not aware of any country where similar lawlessness is taking place without being adequately checked.
“Mass burials without a full scale war is unprecedented and unacceptable. We are pained to observe that killings and kidnapping of people are no longer news in the country and no one is immune from it. Why should we be watching for a nation well situated by God to become a land that is swallowing its inhabitants?
“While reassuring all that we at CAN will not give up praying for this nation and giving pieces of advice to the government, we urge the government that is supposed to be more decisive in taking far-reaching security steps to rise up and do it. Continuous sympathy through press statements or condolence visit after many souls have been been wasted is not acceptable anymore. What we need is adequate protection of lives and property by those we have put in charge to do so.
“May the Lord comfort the relatives of those who were killed and save our nation from total collapse in Jesus’ name,” the statement read in part.