The Pentecostal Bishops of the 19 Northern States in conjunction with the Christian Association Of Nigeria (CAN) and Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU) have called on President Buhari and Governor El-Rufai to put a stop to the killing going on in the Southern Kaduna.
The Coalition made the call on Tuesday in Abuja, at a press conference tagged,”The Killings In Southern Kaduna And Elsewhere In Nigeria Must Stop.”
According to the group, the briefing is to ventilate the painful lamentations of patriotic Nigerians over the incessant attacks and killings perpetrated by blood thirsty armed militia, bandits and terrorists on the defenseless people of Southern Kaduna and innocent Nigerians in other parts of Nigeria.
“We are vociferously demanding that the these distressing killings must stop forthwith and deterrent measures put in place without further ado.
“There is urgent need for men of good conscience to speak up and condemn unreservedly the naked savagery and act of genocide being perpetrated by daily against the peace loving Southern Kaduna people.
“We must move beyond rhetorics and demand decisive actions from those whose duty it is under the constitution to protect the defenceless citizens, but unfortunately remain unmoved, unconcerned, and pretentiously undisturbed.
“While allegedly and disingenuously giving official fillip to the dastardly act, in addition to putting forward twisted arguments and logic to divert attention from the real issues.
“It is apposite to state that this press conference is not to blame the government outright , having noted its repeated claim of working tirelessly to arrest the ugly development, though it is lamentable that no arrests and prosecution have been recorded to date.
“We are using this public platform to join our voices to the patriotic cries of concerned citizens and groups nationally and internationally, especially, the Christian Association Of Nigeria (CAN) and Southern Kaduna Peoples Union(SOKAPU) to strongly call on President Muhammadu Buhari and Governor, Nasiru El-Rufai and other relevant government functionaries at various levels to do more and be seen to be doing everything humanly and materially possible to bring lasting succor to the despoiled people,” they stated.
The group noted that the situation has taken a dangerous dimension of ethnic cleansing going by the methodical and clinical decimation of the population of the indigenous people of Southern Kaduna with mindless ruthlessness.
They stressed that the audacity of the recent attacks and the inaction of the relevant security formations to bring the perpetrators to justice suggest a wicked collaboration, double standard and sabotage in certain quarters.
They added that this gives the impression that a sinister script is being acted out to overrun the people and forcefully annex their ancestral heritage in all ramifications.
The coalition in view of the foregoing, cautioned that the inhuman satanic enterprise must be decisively crushed and the hapless victims who are constitutionally bonafide citizens of this country must be fully liberated, compensated, and protected from further acts of provocative aggression, among other recommendations.
“Prompt arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators of the dastardly act as well as their sponsors, whoever and wherever they may be.
“Fortification of security arrangement in the entire Southern Karina communities.
“Instituting a regime of structured compensation for losses incurred by the hapless victims who are still alive or relatives of the dead victims, though no amount of can replace a life lost.
“Mobilization and engagement of the traditional and religious institutions in the entire area for effective consensus building among the various socio-cultural and economic groups.
“Effective sensitization of the people on their responsibilities towards one another and the government, as well as the need for harmonious relationships in the communities,” they stressed.
The group further emphasized the need for revisiting the age long simmering socio-economic and political feuds among the various groups in order to arrive at an equitable, acceptable, and enduring solution.
They equally stressed the need for the government to bring the much needed physical and economic development closer to the communities while promoting their social welfare.
