Northern Christians Vow Not Pull out of CAN, Condemn Religious Killings in Zamfara

Gboyega Akinsanmi

The Northern Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) monday said it would not pull out from the umbrella organisation of Christian denominations in the country to form a different body.

The Northern CAN however, condemned the recent killings and religious radicalism, which it said was displayed at Zamfara College of Education by some students of Islamic faith.

The group expressed grave concern on the Zamfara killings in a communique it released monday after its maiden delegates meeting held at COCIN Headquarters, Jos last week.

The communique, which was signed by the Northern CAN Chairman, Rev. Yakubu Pam and Public Relations Officer, Rev. John Joseph Hayab, said it would not pull from the Christian umbrella organisation.

It noted that it was agreed by all delegates at the meeting that Northern CAN would not pull out of CAN to form a different body, noting that the Northern CAN would remain with the umbrella.
It called on the Zamfara State Government “to ensure Christian students at secondary and higher institutions in the North are given full protection from any form of molestation.

“The delegates also resolved that northern governors as chief security officers of their respective states should ensure that Christians in their states are not intimidated, molested or killed by religious fanatics under any guise.”

The communique said Northern CAN delegates at the meeting also expressed their reservation over the recent visit of the United States Secretary of State to Nigeria, Senator John Kerry that excluded Christian leaders from meeting him.

Rather than meeting all interests and stakeholders in the North, the communique said the US Secretary of State chose to make his first point-of-call Sokoto to meet the Sultan and select northern governors.

The communique also called on the unemployed youths in the North “to go into farming rather than be waiting endlessly for white collar jobs that are unavailable.”
It called on the federal government “to do all it can to bring lasting peace to North-east region to enable IDPs return to their homes. They also condemn in strong terms under age marriages, abductions in some parts of the northern states.”

The Northern CAN frowned at ongoing land grabbing in some states of the North by some persons or group bent on causing crises in the region, advising the governments to halt the activities of these group of persons.