Apology Demanded of Top Officials
By Luka Binnyat and Mike Odeh James
Rev David Ayuba Azzaman has taken aim at the federal and state governments for inept handling of the kidnap attack on Christian dominated Gonin Gora on Feb. 28, which saw 17 residents marched into kidnap oblivion.
Azzaman, a firebrand cleric and pastor of Kings Worship Center International, Sabo, Kaduna described as “unacceptable” the silence of the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), the Nigerian Christian umbrella body, saying its silence failed to show empathy towards the city’s families.
“Where is CAN in this matter?
“The leadership of CAN is supposed to have spoken out immediately the Gonin Gora kidnap and killings occurred, but it remained silent,” he said to TruthNigeria.
“If it was a Muslim community that was attacked, you would have seen statements from Ja’a matul Nasr Islam (JNI) – the major umbrella body representing Muslims in Nigeria – or Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) if Gonin Gora was a Muslim community,” Azzaman said.
” Muslim organizations would have ensured that the case is in the media consistently. However, with Christians the case is always very different. Nobody is talking,” according to Azzaman.
“It is like CAN finds its voice only during political times when there is election. It is not at all concerned about Christians wellbeing ” he said to TruthNigeria.
Did Authorities Abuse Protestors?
On the morning of Feb. 29, residents of the 200,000- strong community of mixed middle- and low-income earners peacefully demonstrated on the Kaduna – Abuja highway over what they said was the shoddy response of the military stationed in the area to protect them.
The demonstration caused traffic gridlock on the busy highway. However, soldiers and policemen shut down the demonstration with live bullets into the air and threw scores of tear gas canisters at the crowd, beating up two protesters and arresting several, according to TruthNigeria reportage.
Kaduna State Commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs later in the evening issued a strongly worded statement condemning the protest and warning against future protests on the highway. The statement did not condemn the kidnapping or say what effort government was making to secure the release of the hostages and get the kidnappers to book.
CAN Rebuts Charges
But CAN defended itself, saying its only role was to pray for victims of crime and beg God to influence government to do its duty of securing everyone.
The leadership of Christian Association Nigeria (CAN), Kaduna state chapter lead by Rev Caleb Maaji has defended the silence of CAN over the incident.
In a chat with Truthnigeria yesterday the CAN Chairman, Kaduna state chapter said that the primary role of CAN is to pray for Gonin Gora and to also pray for government, saying that CAN is deeply concerned and worried when Christians or non-Christians are killed or kidnapped.
“I can tell you that as CAN Chairman, I am very worried and concerned when Christians are kidnapped or killed by terrorists, and l like to let you know that even though we don’t shout it out in the open, we pray for them and also do our best to ensure that the victims are returned safely while we also ensure that their families are also safe through prayers,” he said.
Rev Maaji further added, CAN leadership preferred to engage the State or Federal Government in peaceful dialogue when Christians are kidnapped or harassed.
“Confrontation won’t get us anywhere, he told Truthnigeria
“Similarly, we are praying for those kidnapped. We are praying for their families, and we are hoping that God will bring them out alive.
“It is also our primary responsibility to pray for the government of the state so that God will touch their hearts to do what is needed to secure us all,” he said.
At the time of sending this report, nothing has been heard of the 17 kidnapped victims.
Azzaman Cited State Commissioner for double standards
The fiery cleric took a swipe at the Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal affairs, Samuel Aruwan, for his two-tiered approach to Christians as opposed to Muslim victims of crime in Kaduna state.
“During an incident when soldiers used their drones and accidentally bombed civilians in the community of Tudun Biri, in December last year, Samuel Aruwan was there to show empathy. He spoke soothingly to the villagers and assured them of assistance from the state government,” Azzaman said.
“But for Gonin Gora, Aruwan was walking up and down menacingly with troops guiding him, and he was warning that the Kaduna-Abuja highway is not a place for any demonstration. He was watching how our youths were brutalized by soldiers,” he said.
“That means that Aruwan and Governor Sani Uba of Kaduna state are only interested in keeping the expressway open and not interested in securing the lives and properties of Christians,” said Azzaman.
“I expect Governor Uba Sani and Samuel to tender an apology to the people of Gonin Gora for not stopping the attacks on their communities. This apology must be followed by the Government mobilizing to get those kidnapped out of the terrorists’ den,” he said
In view of the failure of the military to defend Nigerians from attacks by Fulani terrorists, Rev Azzaman told Truthnigeria Nigerians must be allowed to defend themselves. He noted that self-defense is constitutional right.
Luka Binniyat and Mike Odeh James are veteran conflict reporters and currently contribute to TruthNigeria from Kaduna.
