Abuja killing: “Nigeria is dancing a macabre dance of death” – CAN
By Abraham Adegoke
The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, has said Nigeria is dancing a macabre dance of death with government’s lukewarm attitude towards ending the recent upsurge in religious killings within the country.
This follows the killing of Eunice Elisha, a deaconeess at the Redeeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) while preaching in Abuja, early Saturday morning.
In a statement signed by its General Secretary, Rev. Dr. Musa Asake, CAN expressed its shock and disbelief at “the report of yet another religious hatred motivated gruesome murder”.
But that incident is not the sole cause of CAN’s grievance.
The statement also listed the following incidences:
- The mob killing of Mrs Bridget Agbaheme at Wambai market in Kano.
- The killing of a clergyman in Nasarawa sometime last week, and
- The killing of 81 people in attacks on Logo and Ukum local government areas of Benue State.
While commiserating with the families affected by “these mindless orgies of death and destruction”, the Christian body called for “response from all concerned citizens in the country”.
“The recurring decimal of violence and murder of innocent Nigerian citizens on the basis of religious intolerance demands specific and relevant response from all concerned citizens in the country more so when the government in power seems to have adopted an attitude of lukewarm response to the evils being perpetrated in Nigeria in the name of religion.
“The discrimination against non-Muslims in Nigeria under the Buhari Administration is assuming a dangerous dimension that should not be left to the vagaries of time and circumstance to resolve.
“You will agree with me that with these happenings and the lukewarm attitude by the authorities concern toward putting an end to it, Nigeria is dancing a macabre dance of death, both for the nation and for its citizens. It is time to stop the beat and let common sense guide the nation out of the present quagmire. A stitch in time saves nine.
“Before the situation escalates into an unmanageable national crisis, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) is calling on the authorities both at the states and federal to do everything possible to bring the perpetrators to justice if the confidence of Christians on this government must be maintained.
“The unprovoked attacks on Christians and the authority’s inaction is becoming unbearable and may not be tolerated anymore, inasmuch as we will continue to call on Christians to remain tolerant and law abiding, it is becoming inevitable to also call on them to buckle up and be ready to defend themselves against these incessant unprovoked and mindless attacks..
