The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Kaduna State Chapter, has said mourning has become a normal occurrence in the state.
It said this in reaction to the Abuja-Kaduna train attack incident on Monday 28th March.
A statement by Kaduna state chairman of CAN, Rev. John Joseph Hayab, said, “Sadly, mourning is now an everyday ordeal in Kaduna even though we have a sitting government with huge security votes disbursed monthly. Besides, the train attack further amplifies the vulnerability Kaduna people and everyone who does business in the state face due to the rise in banditry and terrorism.”
The statement explained that CAN and all well-meaning folks have cried that Kaduna residents and visitors across ethnic and religious divides live in fear everywhere and all the time following the dread of bandits have demonstrated more audacity stronger than that of the government of the day.
The statement noted, “Even though banditry is a heinous crime, the bandits appear to have evolved an extended network for intelligence gathering and planning on how to fulfil their mission of terrorising innocent citizens. On the contrary, the resilience of the government and her intelligence gathering happens to be more about settling scores with perceived foes.”
CAN called on the Federal Government to deploy everything at her disposal to crush the bandits who have had a field day in Kaduna and elsewhere in Nigeria, bringing grief for the kidnapped or killed to a complete stop.
It also appealed to the security agencies to employ innovative professional strategies for dealing with the situation and repudiate any political interference in security matters, stressing that a nation where mourning has become an everyday ordeal can not be productive because a heart that mourns becomes fragile, unable to think, plan or organize well.
CAN then called on all Christians and people of goodwill in Kaduna state to continue to pray and do the needful for peace to reign, stressing that their hearts and prayers are with the bereaved families as they pray for God’s comfort and to those who sustained injuries, pray for a quick recovery.
