Stop Deceiving Nigerians On Boko Haram – Clergy Chides FG
- Confirms killing of CAN Chairman
- Buhari condemns killing
- CAN President seeks global support
The Catholic Bishop of Adamawa Diocese, Bishop Stephen Manza, has warned the Federal Government to stop deceiving Nigerians about defeating the dreaded Boko Haram insurgents.
The Clergy, who confirmed the unfortunate killing of the Christian Association of Nigerian (CAN) Chairman for Michika Local Government Area of Adamawa State, Rev. Lawan Andimi, by the insurgents, expressed regrets that government has failed woefully in its constitutional responsibility of protecting and securing Nigerians.
This is as President Muhammadu Buhari has condemned the killing of Lawan Andimi by the terrorists’ group, describing it as cruel, inhuman and deliberately provocative.
A distraught Bishop Manza, who challenged the Federal Government to be more decisive in matters of security and protecting innocent citizens, said; “Government should stop fooling Nigerians and tell them the truth.”
“Let no one be deceived. Boko Haram is still strong… Who can travel between Michika and Maiduguri without using escort?” an angry Manza queried.
According to Manza, who is the Adamawa State Chairman of CAN, it is unfortunate that Andimi was killed when negotiations were still ongoing to free the reverend gentleman even as at Sunday, January 19
Addressing journalists in Yola, Manza said the sad news of Andimi’s death was confirmed by the individual who acted as go-between the President of Ecclesiya Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN) Church, Rev. Joel Billy and the terrorist group. Andimi was an EYN reverend.
The Catholic Bishop disclosed that; “They sent him a photo. There was a video but it is too gruesome to be shown” publicly, adding that the insurgents demanded £2 million as ransom to free Andimi but only N50 million could be raised, which they still rejected.
However, reacting to the unfortunate incident, President Buhari regretted that the religious leader was killed by the terrorists while giving signals of their willingness to free and release him to third parties.
Speaking through a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, in Abuja on Tuesday, the President consoled the Christian community all over Nigeria, the government and people of Adamawa as well as the Bishop’s family over the sad loss of the man of God.
He said besides efforts at ensuring they are ”comprehensively defeated by our determined armed forces”, the terrorists would continue to pay a heavy price for their actions
The president urged nations of the world to end all support provided to the Boko Haram and Islamic States in West Africa (ISWA) terrorist groups whose only goal was to sow death, violence and destruction in the sub-region.
Late Andimi was abducted when the insurgents attacked his village on Friday, January 2, 2020 but were repelled by the Nigerian Armed Forces before they could wreck more havoc.
In his reaction, CAN President, Dr. Supo Ayokunle, expressed sadness over Andimi’s killing, declaring a 3-day Prayers and Fasting and calling for a total overhauling of the security architecture
He also insist that Nigeria urgently needs help from the international community, even as he passed a vote of No Confidence on the country’s security chiefs
