The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), has condoled with the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakae III, the people and the government of Sokoto State on the recent killing of innocent people and destruction of property by bandits at the Goronyo Central Market in the state.
CAN noted with shock, pain and disappointment the reported attacks and the loss of many lives despite all efforts being made by the government to stop these criminal elements.
Barrister Joseph Daramola, Christian Association of Nigeria’s General Secretary, in a condolence statement said, ‘We are shocked, pained and disappointed with the reported attacks and the loss of many lives despite all the efforts being made by the government to stop these criminal elements amidst us. CAN condemns in strong terms the operations of these criminals and tasked security agencies to rise up to this menace before it’s too late.’
He noted that the fact that the bandits struck when the Chief of Army Staff, a prominent indigene of the state, Lt. General Faruk Yahaya, was visiting Sokoto state, speaks volumes about the evil intentions of the criminals.
“We join the Sultan and Governor Aminu Tambuwal in appealing to the Federal Government to deploy more troops to the state to stop these criminals and their criminalities,” CAN emphasized.
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The statement lamented that while still counting the loss of lives and property at the Goronyo market, the criminals also attacked the Kaduna-Abuja train line.
It stated that according to Senator Shehu Sani, who was among the passengers that escaped the attack, bandits planted an explosive that damaged the rail track and shattered the windshield of the train’s engine on Wednesday evening.
CAN prayed that may God console and comfort all the bereaved occasioned by these attacks and may God grant accelerated healing to those who are still recuperating in the hospitals.
CAN reiterated its clarion call for a total overhauling of the security architecture with a view to injecting fresh energy and ideas into the system, stressing that the security architecture has been compromised.
‘The bitter truth is we have never had it this bad. The earlier the government realised this, the better for us,’ CAN said.
CAN called on President Muhammadu Buhari to ask the National Assembly to amend the Constitution with a view to allowing the State Police as it is being done in other climes, saying that the existing system can no longer handle this situation effectively.
The Chriatian body said, ‘We Nigerians are no longer sleeping with our eyes closed because we are all living in fear. This is too bad.’
AFRICA DAILY NEWS, NEW YORK