The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has warned against stoking violence after a viral video showed an Islamic cleric urging Muslims to stand up and take over political power in Taraba State.
According to a statement signed by CAN Chairman in Taraba, Rev. Isaiah Magaji-Jirapye, the videos circulating on social media were capable of setting the state on fire.
Magaji-Jirapye called on the security agencies to arrest the clerics involved.
“The attention of the Taraba State Chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria has been drawn to several video clips of Islamic Clerics from outside Taraba State, threatening religious war and the establishment of a sharia Islamic government in Taraba over the recent APC governorship primaries in the state in which a Christian, Senator Emmanuel Bwacha was announced the winner.
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“The messages of these clerics stand condemned by all reasonable individuals. We call for their immediate arrest and question why they are interested in setting up Taraba in flames.
“Our tolerance has been why we are still exempted from the religious carnage ongoing in some states. We urge the APC to settle their party issues without bringing in religion.
“CAN is not a partisan organisation but has observed with dismayed the threats on Christians in Taraba State and an attempt to instigate religious unrest from some Islamic Clerics from across Nigeria.
“CAN in Taraba state and indeed well-meaning Nigerians are shocked that a purely political party affair could be given a religious colouration and draws such segregation capable of destabilizing the entire nation,” the statement read in part.
Magaji-Jirapye called on intelligence agencies and the federal government to expedite actions and apprehend and prosecute the individuals in the videos before they throw Taraba state and Nigeria into avoidable bloodshed.