Wale Odunsi, Dailypost
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on Friday condemned the murder of Borno rice farmers in the strongest terms.
More than 40 Zabarmari indigenes were slaughtered by Boko Haram last Saturday and buried on Sunday.
CAN President, Samson Ayokunle, in a statement by his spokesman, Bayo Oladeji, told President Muhammadu Buhari and security agencies to crush the terrorists before they murder more Nigerians.
The body lamented that criminals now operate with impunity all over the country, especially in the North-East and North-West regions.
CAN said as usual, the number of victims of the Koshebe attack remains disputed by the federal government.
“To us at CAN, 43 casualties was not only frightening but inexcusable by those who should have prevented it. The massacre was wicked and completely satanic.
“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.”
CAN urged the government to think out of the box and take adequate steps to bring the terrorists to their knees.
Noting that mass burials without a full scale war is unprecedented and unacceptable, the Christian leadership regretted that killings and kidnapping had become the norm in Nigeria.
“Why should we be watching for a nation well situated by God to become a land that is swallowing its inhabitants?”, the statement quipped.
The body added that continuous sympathy through press statements and condolence visit after many souls have been wasted is no longer acceptable.
CAN assured that it would continue to advise the authorities. It prayed that God will comfort the relatives of the deceased.
