Kaduna Crises: Constitute Probe Panel Now – Northern Christians Tell Buhari

BY AMOS TAUNA, KADUNA – The Congress of Northern Nigeria Christians (CNNC), has called on the Federal Government to as a matter of necessity, finding an enduring peace and national interest, urgently constitute a probe panel to investigate the recent crises in parts of Kaduna State.

This is just as the CNNC expressed serious concerned at what it described as “the disgraceful security situation” in Kaduna state that has claimed over 100 lives and destroyed unquantifiable properties this October.

The CNNC which is body of all Christians in the 19 Northern states and the FCT, noted that the situation has been clearly exacerbated by the lack of unbiased leadership in Kaduna State which has further alienated the citizens along religious fault lines.   

It stressed that the probe panel should unravel the cause of the crises, the perpetrators and proffer ways and means of ensuring peace in the affected areas. 

Speaking through its Media and Publicity Secretary, Larry Joseph Yammai, the Christian body said the panel of inquiry would ensure that the crises do not spill to other parts of the state and other states.

The CNNC also called for a commission to resettle those displaced from their homes by killers to enable them go back home and live normal lives. 

The CNNC, which is the registered body of all Christians in the 19 Northern states and the FCT, lamented the wicked killing of Agom Adara by those that kidnapped him.

It urged government and security agencies to beef up security across the country to bring perpetrators of kidnapping and other heinous activities to book as a way of ensuring lasting peace.   

“CNNC is saddened by the gruesome murder of the Agom Adara, Dr Maiwada Galadima (JP). This reprehensible act that should have no place in today’s Nigeria, appears to be a recurrent decimal within communities of our members.

“We recall that Etum Numana, Malam Gambo Makama and his expectant wife were also killed January 1st this very year. 

“Apprehension has taken hold of the entire Kaduna state and so CNNC wishes to express her trepidations over the probable spillover effects into other states and so calls on President Muhammadu Buhari to quickly set up a high-power body to investigate these shameful acts with the aim to find lasting peace. 

“CNNC notes with grave concern the rapid deterioration of the security situation across the nation particularly in the Northeast. Boko Haram is reported to be resisting and overrunning the Nigerian Army, even with the recent attack on the 145 Battalion in Gashigar, Borno state.

“Whether the military is motivated and has enough and requisite equipment to execute this war is a matter of conjecture.  

“CCNC notes with trepidation the continuous and wanton destruction of lives and property by the terrorist killer Fulani herdsmen on the Plateau and other locations as it begs the question of how much killing will be termed illegal before this government will arrest the perpetrators of these heinous crimes? 

“Innocent villagers where these killings are taking place are now being rounded up for indiscriminate arrests by the military forcing them to flee their homes while their killers walk free.

“The semblance of giving more protection, concern and cover by the government to a certain set of people while leaving the other exposed exacerbates the already fragile mistrust.

“CNNC calls for swift and deliberate rounding up of these killers so they can face the full wrath of the law.

“CNNC has also noted that the killer Fulani herdsmen attacks are mostly on Christian dominated enclaves and have the grand signature of a well calculated, oiled and administered tactical masterpiece to completely sack our members from these areas so that they could be disenfranchised come the 2019 elections.

“After these communities have been over-ran and occupied by these terrorist elements and the government appears unwilling to exert the big stick. It has become crystal clear that 2019 is one of the game plans that is at play and that the Nigerian government led by President, Muhammadu Buhari is equally unwilling to resettle these farmers that were sacked from their lands by these terrorist Fulani herdsmen. This inaction has two devastating effect on these farmers. 

“First, that they are not being reunited with their lands and so cannot engage in farming – their only way of survival. Consequently, there shall be massive food shortages with the government taking no visible steps to plug this anomaly. 

“Secondly, these farmers shall be disenfranchised with the 2019 elections. It is in this light that CNNC once again calls upon President Muhammadu Buhari to as a matter of urgency constitute a high-powered commission to resettle these displaced citizens in their lands and communities and give them the adequate security they deserve as Nigerians and allow them to continue to live and function as such.”