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From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has asked its members across the country to prepare for nationwide peaceful protest over the murder of Deborah Samuel, a 200 level students of Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, killed by alleged Islamic extremists over alleged blasphemy.
CAN President, Rev. Samson Ayokunle Olasupo, in a letter to all CAN bloc leaders, zonal chairmen, state chairmen, local coordinators, denominational and church leaders, asked them to prepare their members for the peaceful protest scheduled to hold on 22 May, 2022, by 3:00 prompt.
CAN General Secretary, Joseph Bade Daramola, who signed the statement, explained that the peaceful action will not take place on the streets as usual in order to avoid further loss of lives, but will take place at every secretariat of CAN nationwide, and those without CAN’s secretariat may use any church with big premises.
He said: “We are to hold placards with some succinct messages like ‘we demand justice for Deborah, no more killing in God’s name, enough is enough, police stop unprovoked killings in Nigeria, Christians are not second class citizens, killers of Deborah must be prosecuted, we condemn religious killings, we say no to Islamic extremists”.
He advocated an engagement of traditional media and the social media to give it a wide coverage in other to sensitize the whole world. He also called on Nigenan Christians in diaspora to join in using embassies all over the world to send the message to the world.
He also suggested that the occasion also be used to pray for Deborah’s lamily and friends, peace for the country, victory for the Church and godly political leaders in the coming general elections.”
Meanwhile, Public Relations Officer of
CAN (19 Northern States and Abuja), Chaplain Jechonia Gilbert, in a statement condemned the gruesome and barbaric murder of Deborah Samuel by some religious extremists.
He urged all christian leaders to terminate their participation in Nigerian Inter-Religious Council (NIREC), until their counterparts of Islamic faith show commitment to tame their followers on equal terms.
He said: “While CAN does not and will not encourage casting aspersions on any religion or religious leader of any faith, it frowns at hiding under the gab of any religious extremism to perpetrate any form of criminality against its members especially in Northern Nigeria.
“God Almighty is not and can never be a weak God for mere mortal to fight and defend Him. On the contrary, it is He who keeps, watches and defends us. CAN believe that life is sacred and must never be taken by another unless as directed by the State.”
He called on the Federal and Sokoto State government not to resort to usual rhetorics but demonstrate political will and capacity to bring the perpetrators of the criminality to justice, otherwise, others may take queue from it and turn Nigeria to a country of lawlessness at every slightest provocation.
