Insecurity: Northern Christians warn Buhari, governors

– Northern Christians, led by Yakubu Pam, have warned President Muhammadu Buhari and governors in the region to take concrete steps to end religious intolerance

– They expressed anger over the killing of some people in the north for alleged blasphemy against Prophet Mohammed

President Muhammadu Buhari and governors in the northern part of Nigeria must stop paying lip-service to issues of security, northern Christian leaders have warned.

File photo: Muhammadu Buhari (second left), Yemi Osibajo (left), Chairman Northern Christian Leaders Eagle-Eyes Forum, Aminchi Abu (second right) Bishop Daniel Oboni during an interactive session

The warning came from the religious leaders in the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja in a press statement on Sunday, according to Vanguard.

There has been outrage, especially following the stabbing of one Francis Emmanuel by some Muslim youths in the Kakuri area of Kaduna for eating during Ramadan as well as the killing of another woman for alleged blasphemy in Kano.

The Christian leaders called on the government to put adequate measures in place to protect Christians and their places of worship as well as bring to an end incessant attacks and killings of Christians in the region.

Reverend Yakubu Pam, chairman of the Christian Association of Nigerian in the region who made the call Jos, Plateau state said it was unacceptable that some groups of persons operating under the guise of defending their religion could hack to death a woman, Mrs Bridget Agabahime, in Kano and another Christian male, Chimaije Emmanuel, to death in similar fashion under the guise of blaspheming against Prophet Mohammed.

He charged northern governors to face up to their responsibilities as chief security officers of their states and provide adequate security to the lives and properties of Christians in their states.

To him, all Nigerians have equal rights to live in any state of the federation to carry out their lawful businesses without anyone causing harm to them.

“The recent ugly incidents in Kano and Niger states are regrettable and uncivilized and should not be tolerated by people of good will in this country.

“The perpetrators of these evil acts must be fished out with their gangs and made to face the full wrath of the law to serve as deterrence to others who might be nursing such ambition to carry out dastardly act in the nearest future,” he said just as he cautioned the governors not to rush into committing parts of land in their states for grazing reserves or grazing route for cattle herders without going into consultation with the people who own the land.

He warned that unless the interests of the people they govern are taken into consideration before embarking on any policy, it might be counter-productive at the end of the day.