The Arewa Christians and Indigenous Pastors Association (ACIPA), has expressed serious concerns over what it described as the sad development of unjustifiable spate of killings of Northerners including Igbos in the South.
ACIPA while consoling and praying for God’s comfort to Mallam Jibril Ahmed over the bestial murder of his pregnant wife, Harira and his three daughters, Khadijah, Hadiza and Zaituna, noted with nostalgic sadness, the unfortunate spade of gruesome and barbaric killings in some South-Eastern Nigerian States.
The Arewa Christians particularly called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators and sponsors of the evil acts and also called on all patriots with respect to humanity irrespective of tribe, region or religion to condemn the spade of killings.
These were contained in a statement by the Chairman of ACIPA, Rev. Luke Shehu, who also said that in view of the Arewa Christians’ strategic objective of promoting peace, unity and development in Northern Nigeria and Nigeria at large and like all true lovers of God and humanity, called on the government at all levels to rise to the occasion in restraining and curtailing crime by whatever guise; either tribal militia, bandits, terrorists or proponents of self-determination.
Shehu further said; “While IPOB or any Southern group may have the legitimate right to demand for secession, this must be done through legal processes and or referendum.
“Taking the law into their hands with targeted killings of Northerners is a sign of bad omen and may trigger reprisals.
“We use this medium to plead with the Middle belt ethnic nationalities, and Northern Christians who are the bulwalk of our unity and stabilization to keep sustaining the momentum.
“We also plead with all Muslims in the Northern region to exercise restraint in the face of provocation, knowing that Nigeria as a whole is greater than the sum of the parts,” he appealed.
