Late Deborah
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the nineteen(19) Northern States and Abuja has implored all Christian leaders in the country to terminate their participation in Nigerian Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) until their counterparts of Islamic faith show commitment to tame their followers.
CAN made this plea yesterday while calling on the Federal and state government authorities not to cover up the killing of the young Christian student, Deborah Samuel, who was gruesomely murdered in Sokoto last week, under disturbing circumstances.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday by the Northern CAN’s Publicity Secretary, Chaplain Jechonia Gilbert, the Christian organisation made a passionate plea that the lawless and mob rule judgement meted out to Deborah in the name of religion must not be allowed to go unpunished.
Jechonia said Northern CAN believes that Nigeria is a country governed by the rule of law and order. Therefore, any act of lawlessness and criminality must not be swept under the carpet.
The statement reads, “The Christian Association of Nigeria (19 Northern States and Abuja) is deeply saddened over the recent ugly development in Sokoto State, that led to the gruesome murder of Miss Deborah Samuel, a 200 Level female student of the Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto for an alleged blasphemy.
“The umbrella organisation of all Christians in Northern Nigeria condemn this gruesome and barbaric murder of Deborah in the strongest terms possible.
“While CAN does not and will not encourage casting aspersions on any Religion or religious leader of any faith, CAN frowns at hiding under the garb of any religious extremism to perpetrate any form of criminality against her members especially in Northern Nigeria. God Almighty is not and can never be a weak God for a mere mortal to fight and defend Him.
“On the contrary, it is He who keeps, watches and defends us. CAN believe that life is sacred and must never be taken by another unless as directed by the State.
“The CAN (19 Northern States and Abuja) is calling on the Federal Government under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari and the Sokoto State government under governor Aminu Tambuwal not to resort to government’s usual rhetoric but must demonstrate political will and capacity to bring the perpetrators of this crime to justice; otherwise, others may take cue from this and turn our fatherland to a country of lawlessness at every slightest provocation.
“CAN, 19 Northern States, is calling on every christian parents across the nation, especially Northern states to discourage sending their children to any school in Sokoto State, pending when the Federal and State governments are ready and willing to secure the lives of our children both in Sokoto and other States that are hostile to Christians and Christianity.
“We are urging all Christian leaders to terminate their participation in Nigerian Inter-Religious Council (NIREC), until their counterparts of Islamic faith show commitment to tame their followers on equal terms.
“Northern CAN prays for the immediate family and indeed the church of late Deborah Samuel not to lose hope in God’s ability to avenge the killers of their daughter.
“We appeal and counsel those who feel and think that killing and oppressing Christians is a demonstration of their service to their God to learn from history. Those that tried it in Egypt and their experiences should be enough warning. There is a Red Sea awaiting them, even those who are secretly encouraging them, must partake in the Red Sea Experience.”
