The call by the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, for a national day of protest against the incessant killing of innocent and helpless people in the country, has received a major boost. The call was made against the backdrop of the killing of two priests and 17 worshippers of St. Ignatius Catholic church, Mbalom, in Gwer East Local Government Area of Benue State.
In a statement on Wednesday, CAN President, Rev. Olasupo Ayokunle, had urged Christians to hold the peaceful protests within their church premises on Sunday, April 29, 2018. As soon as the message went viral, two influential groups – the Association of Nigerian Professionals in Canada and African-Americans United for Positive Action – immediately responded to the call by CAN, pledging financial support for the planned protest.
The message said: “CAN urges Christians in Nigeria to hold peaceful protest on the set aside date, in the premises of their churches asking the Federal Government and the security agencies to stop the unending killings and bloodshed in the country. They are to carry placards with inscriptions meant to address issues about sustained killings, attacks and destruction of their property in Nigeria”.
The Association of Nigerian Professionals in Canada and African-Americans United for Positive Action responded to the call by Rev. Ayokunle, pledging to provide whatever financial assistance the CAN would require to carry out the protest effectively. The groups insisted that such a protest will serve to remind the Nigerian government of its constitutional responsibility of protecting ordinary citizens well.
In a release in Toronto, Canada, last Wednesday, the groups said no excuse should be given for undue bloodshed again in Nigeria and called for the perpetrators to be brought to book now.
The groups appealed to the government of President Muhammadu Buhari in the interest of peace, to roll out urgent and effective plans aimed at disarming herdsmen across the northern states and other places where they have been rampaging and killing innocent villagers across the country.
