The President, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Samson Ayokunle, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure the release of Miss Leah Sharibu, Grace Taku and other hostages in the den of the Boko Haram terrorists.
The primary duty of any serious government, according to the CAN President, is the security of lives and property of the governed.
CAN said any government that cannot guarantee this primary responsibility may lose the confidence of the citizens.
In a statement issued yesterday and signed by Special Assistant (Media) to the CAN President, Pastor Bayo Oladeji, the leadership of CAN said it had watched a video from the Boko Haram terrorists’ camp where Grace Taku, an aide worker of Action for Hunger, had appealed to the Federal Government, CAN and other well-meaning people to secure her freedom and those of the other five victims who were recently attacked and abducted by their captors recently.
“The Boko Haram sect sometimes in April this year reportedly kidnapped a National Youth Service Corps member, Abraham Amuta, and a cleric with Living Faith Church (Winners’ Chapel) identified as Pastor Moses Oyeleke in Borno State. We have not heard anything about their whereabouts.
“We have heard the prompt response made by the Federal Government to the Save-Our-Soul cry of Grace and we join her in calling on President Muhammadu Buhari and the security agencies, especially the Department of State Security, to secure her freedom and that of Leah Sharibu before getting too late. Grace Taku has cried out on behalf of other hostages.
“We urge the Federal Government to expedite action towards the captives’ release, as in that of Dapchi girls, except Leah Sharibu. We believe strongly that Leah Sharibu is still alive hale and hearty, and she and others must be set free from the captivity. Enough of paying a lip service to the menace of security challenges in the country.
“We have been calling for a total overhauling of the security apparatus of the country, and we have asked the developed nations to assist Nigeria in combating the challenges before the country becomes unbearable. There is no exaggeration to say Nigerian roads are unsafe as kidnappers, terrorists, killer herdsmen and bandits are operating with impunity.
“How come these six aid workers were abducted and taken to the den of the captives without the awareness of the security agencies? What has become their intelligence gathering? Are we sure there are no saboteurs among our security agencies? Is there anything the government and the security agencies are doing to stop this menace that we don’t know,” CAN said.
The Christian body called on well-meaning people and agencies to join CAN in pleading with our government and the security agencies to: “wake up from their slumber before it will be too late. Our prayer is that the awesome God will come to the aid of this country. He will free all the captives and comfort all the bereaved of the killings in the country.”