Wea��re targets of herdsmen, B/Haram attacks a�� Northern Christians

From Jibril Miachi, Kaduna
Prominent Nigerians under the aegis of the Congress of Northern Nigeria Christians (CNNC), have said that their members are the targets of herdsmen and Boko Haram insurgentsa�� attacks.
They said that the killings and other activities of the Boko Haram sect and herdsmen, were a ploy to eliminate Nigerian Christians.
At a press conference in Kaduna on Monday, CNNC Chairman, Prof. Adamu Baikie, warned that if the trend was not checked, Nigeria may disintegrate.
The Christian group, which described the happenings as a�?evil tendency that will do no one any good,a�? charged President Muhammadu Buhari to sincerely and promptly intervene with a view to ending the killings, destruction of property and kidnapping of Christians.
He cited the continued killing of innocent Nigerians in the Middle Belt and the destruction of their farm lands without any serious efforts by the government to protect them, as worrisome.
The CNNC also noted with pains the plight of Miss Leah Sharibu, one of the over 113 Dapchi schoolgirls, that was not released by Boko Haram sect after her mates were set free, simply because she refused to denounce her religion.
Baikie said: a�?From all indications, it is very obvious that the destruction project of Boko Harm is targeted at Christians. We are saddened and condemn this evil tendency aimed at setting the country ablaze and therefore urge Mr. President to, as a matter of urgency, intervene to ensure immediate release of this young girl.
a�?The herdsmen killings are continuing on a daily basis across the Middle Belt region and parts of the southern states, using very deadly weapons such as AK-47, with high level of impunity.
a�?It appears a particular group of people are deliberately targeted for destruction. Cattle business is a personal one and so, the owners should take the option of ranching, paying for the lands to be used just like people interested in farming buy lands to do so.
a�?Consequently, CNNC abhors the thought of cattle colonies as being suggested in some quartersa�?.
Though the CNNC commended the recent visits of President Buhari to some states ravaged by killer-herdsmen, it regretted that despite the visit, the bloodbath had continued, a development which they felt questioned the sincerity of such visits and pronouncements so far made by top government officials and head of security agencies.