Leadership of
the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), yesterday, protested the release,
without trial, of five suspects accused of killing 74 year-old Christian woman
in Kano, Mrs Bridget Agbahime. She was
murdered in June, 2016.
The apex
Christian body, said in a statement made available to newsmen, which was signed
by its Director of Legal and Public Affairs, Kwamkur Samuel, the action of Kano State
Government in releasing the suspects was a disservice to the Christian
community in the country.
The alleged
killing of the woman in June sparked nationwide outcry and raised concerns of
reprisals in other parts of the country.
“CAN is deeply
saddened by the news of the release without trial of the five suspects accused.
This is a highly provocative and insultive act on our collective sensitivities
as a democratic nation if the newspapers reports are correct.
“The
association condemns the continuous act of killing of innocent Nigerians under
the pretence of blasphemy and considers the willful absence of justice for
victims of these mindless killings in Nigeria by the relevant authorities as a
very serious constitutional breach and security threat to our unity and
collective survival as a nation.”
CAN also said
non-prosecution of the alleged killers was a clear sign that “there is a
scripted plan to operate another nation within the Nigerian state, thereby
denying justice to those killed.
The cardinal
responsibility of government to protect the lives and property of the citizens
is sacrosanct and must not be sacrificed on the altar of religious convenience.
“As it stands
today, there is no single prosecution record of any criminal who killed under
the pretence of blasphemy in Nigeria despite the number of victims and
incontrovertible facts showing that those killings were done in daylight and
mostly by persons who live within the communities where these heinous crimes
were committed.”
The foremost
Christian body called on Kano state government and Inspector-General of Police
(IGP), Ibrahim Idris to ensure justice
is served.
the Christian
body said“The Association calls on the Kano State Government and the Inspector
General of Police to execute justice on behalf of the blood calling out for
it. The act of condoning crass
criminality in the name of blasphemy deserves greater attention and broader
treatment in this era of transforming the mindset of the citizens to work
toward progressive change.
“As the
umbrella body of Christians in Nigeria, we will not relent in our effort to
ensure that justice is served on the religiously intolerant and to ensure that
all Nigerians are treated equally irrespective of their faith, social status
and where they come from.”sunnewsonline
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