By Pastor Adebayo Oladeji, Special Assistant (Media and Communications) To CAN President, His Eminence, Rev Dr Samson Ayokunle
The attention of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has been drawn to planned wave of attacks to be unleashed on Southern Kaduna and other areas dominated by Christians in some states of the Middle Belt region.
Specifically, CAN has been informed that some of these planned attacks are targeted at Southern Kaduna Chiefdoms and towns that include Gumel, Dagwarga, Daddu, Mariri, Kagoro, hotels, Open University and other soft targets, among others.
While we are prone to dismiss these planned attacks as products of figments of imagination, we are, however, constrained to call the attention of President Muhammadu Buhari and other security agencies to be aware and take precautionary measures.
Having witnessed unprecedented human carnage on the Plateau, we call on President Buhari to place the security agencies on red alert in order to avoid a similar recurrence. While we are happy at the statement credited to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo that perpetrators of the Plateau carnage would not be allowed to escape justice, we are quick to remind and appeal to the Federal Government to at least stand by its promise to ensure that these blood-thirsty herdsmen are brought to book to face the full wrath of the law.
As the umbrella organisation for all Christians in Nigeria, we are at pains at the tragedy that has befallen our members. We mourn the death of over 200 Christians slaughtered on the Plateau at the weekend and we passionately appeal to the Buhari-led Administration to rise up and put a stop to further killings of innocent people, including defenseless women and children.
Following the killings that took place on the Plateau, CAN has obtained reliable information on the number of dead as recorded in B/Ladi & Riyom LGAs from Sat. 23rd to Monday 25th June, 2018
1. Gashish District:
-Nhyer – 80
-Exland(G/Akwati) – 40
-Ruku – 34
-Kakuruk – 6
-Kuzen – 5
Total – 165
2. Ropp District:
-Gana Ropp – 34
-Razat – 1
-Kwang Jot Near Gen. Hospital (Takwok) – 1
-Rakwok – 2
Total – 38
3. Bachi District:
-Shonong – 8
Total – 8
4. Riyom District:
-Kwi – 1
Total – 1
5. Heipang District:
-Chit Heipang 2
Total – 2
6. Vwang District:
-K-Vom Vwang Jos South 1 (OPSH Killing)
Total – 1
7. Zawan District:
-Anguldi – 3 (OPSH Killings)
Total – 3
Grand Total – 218 deaths
Apart from the total number of the death, there are still missing persons. Many people also sustained various degrees of injuries
Villages that have been under constant attacks are:
1. Tanjol Jol, Riyom LGA
2. Rim, Riyom LGA
3. Wereng, Riyom LGA
4. Kwi, Riyom LGA
5. Bangai, Sharubutu Ward, Riyom LGA
6. Kyeng, Dum, Sharubutu Ward, Riyom LGA
7. Lwa, Shonong Ward
8. Gassa, B/Ladi
9. Lokajoro, Ropp B/Ladi
10. Kwang Jot, Ropp B/Ladi
11. Rakwok
12. Rakung B/Ladi
13 Sho, B/Ladi
14. Razat
15. Tabam, Heipang B/Ladi
16. Chit, Heipang B/Ladi
17. Rafan, Fan B/Ladi
18. Tafan, Fan B/Ladi
19. Nding B/Ladi
20. Gana Ropp
21. Kuzen Gashish, B/Ladi
22. Exland Gashish, B/Ladi
22. Shwei Gashish, B/Ladi
23. Nhyer Gashish, B/Ladi
24. Kuzen Gashish, B/Ladi
25. Kakuruk Gashish, B/Ladi
26. Tenti, Bokkos
27. Daffo, Bokkos
28. Ruku Gashish, B/Ladi
29. Darwat, Jol Ward, Riyom
30. Tashek Jol Ward, Riyom
31. Wereh(Dorowa Babuje) Ropp B/Ladi
32. Lobiring Ropp, B/Ladi
33. Sho Ward Ropp, B/Ladi
34. Tarai Jol, Riyom
35. Vwak Jol, Riyom
36. Dakku Jol, Riyom
37. Loton Jol, Riyom
Villages sacked in Bokkos LGA:
-Hurti village in Mangunna Ward
-Josho Village in Daffo Ward
-Morok Daffo Ward
-Ganda Mandung Daffo Ward
-Hotom wurrim Daffo Ward
-Na kudung Daffo Ward
-Fara Dong Hai in Daffo Ward
CAN calls on all security agencies to wake up to their constitutional responsibilities of protecting lives and property. We urge them to be pro-active in doing their jobs. Mobilising troops and policemen after the havoc has been done does not make sense. A government that cannot protect the citizens is a failed government.
CAN is, once again calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to replace all the security chiefs and the Inspector General of Police because they have overstayed their welcome. It is ridiculous and embarrassing that in the last three years, none of these criminals have been apprehended, detained, arraigned and convicted. This is what is emboldening them to kill the innocent with impunity. We are approaching a state of anarchy faster than we can imagine. Why are we following the footpath of Rwanda daily with these unprecedented killings and mass burials when we are not at war?
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.