Nigeria’s Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has called on
the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and other Nigerian leaders to
desist from making utterances capable of causing tension that could
lead to destruction of lives and properties.
Idris who stated this
at a New Year Dinner organised for personnel in Abuja, preached on the
need for religious, community and political leaders to be patriotic in
their endeavours for peace to reign in the country.
He said,
“Nigerians have no other country than Nigeria; hence, the need to do
those things that would bring peace and unity to the country,” adding
that Nigerians should endeavour to live in peace with one another
regardless of religious and ethnic differences.
Idris advice came
on the heels of claims by the Catholic Archdiocese of Kafanchan that the
murderous attack in southern Kaduna by suspected Fulani herdsmen has
claimed more than 808 lives in 53 villages in the area.
CAN
had in a statement by its General Secretary, Musa Asake, on New Year’s
Day stated that President Muhammadu Buhari’s continued silence over the
“ongoing genocide in Kaduna in the last few weeks speaks volume over
perceived official endorsement of the dastardly and ungodly acts.”
The
statement went further to disclose that the president of CAN has
directed that Sunday, January 8, 2017, should be declared a national day
of mourning by Christians, including those in the Diaspora, adding that
the body will use that day to pray fervently for “our Southern Kaduna
brothers and sisters who are victims of these wanton killings and also
for the peace of our dear country.”
The Police is yet to come up
with the number of people murdered in the crisis even as they have been
criticised by many, for their inability to stem the crisis.
