CAN condemns Plateau killings

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has condemned last Saturday’s killing of over 25 people in Jos, Plateau State, urging President Muhammadu Buhari and his government to stop paying lips service to the unending killings in the country.

CAN’s General Secretary, Joseph Bade Daramola, yesterday in Abuja, said that stopping killing of innocent citizens by the criminals cannot be done by mere issuing of press statements and holding periodical meetings with the security chiefs by the president.

According to him, until the government shows the political will by arresting and bringing culprits to book, the shedding of innocent blood will not cease.

“While we commiserate with the bereaved of the dastardly attack on those travellers, we were alarmed by the statement of President Buhari describing the motive behind the criminality as ‘religious persuasion’.

“This is the first time that the federal government will make this type of assertion. Whenever CAN cries out against the killings of its members, the government always rises up to condemn us, telling us that the terrorists and bandits that are killing are not targeting any religion but innocent people irrespective of their religious affiliations.

“The reaction of the president is, to say the least, provocative, unacceptable and unjustifiable. The government shouldn’t be seen as being on the side of one religion against another. Criminals are criminals irrespective of their religious affiliations,” Daramola said.