CAN Slams Buhari, Urges Him To Seek Foreign Help Now

The Christian Association of Nigeria  (CAN) has slammed President Muhammadu Buhari over the kidnap of 140 pupils in Kaduna, urging him to seek foreign assistance immediately.

The latest kidnap of school children involving the pupils of  Bethel Baptist College, Kaduna, has attracted widespread condemnation of the leadership as much as it is sending shivers down the spine of parents.

CAN which spoke through its president,  Rev. Samson Ayokunle submitted that it had become obvious that the security operatives had been overwhelmed, and needed help.

Rev Ayokunle, in a statement issued in Abuja, expressed shock on the kidnap, adding:

A “As it is gradually becoming a norm in Nigeria, Nigerians were yet again taken by surprise to read about the news of the 180 innocent pupils of Bethel Baptist College, Kaduna who were kidnapped by the notorious Boko Haram Terrorists or bandits on Monday 5th July 2021.

“These are children of innocent Nigerians who left the confines of their parents in pursuit of education and a better tomorrow.

“According to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the welfare and the security of all Nigerian citizens is the primary responsibility of the government.

“That President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR has indeed lost grip on the leadership of this nation, especially his inability to provide security for citizens of this nation. He should therefore seek foreign assistance before it is too late.”

CAN said that a government has no business shaking hands, attending international fora, sending emissaries to other countries and commissioning projects when the lives of an average citizen of its own country is at stake.

“It is a sin and a crime against humanity to have zero regard for the lives of others or be unable to provide security for citizens,” CAN said.

“Whereas, provision of adequate security for all Nigerian citizens was one of the campaign promises of President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, in the 2015/2019 general elections and the major reason people voted for him was being an ex-military man, the administration has failed woefully to keep a campaign promise.

“The former administration of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan was severely criticized by our present leaders for inability to curb the activities of Boko Haram, but today we are not only being harassed by Boko Haram and Islamic State of West African Province (who recently appointed their own governor for Borno State) we are terribly traumatised by bandits, kidnappers and other criminals.

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“Nigeria is no longer a safe haven. It has gradually become a den of kidnappers and other criminals who are operating almost unchecked. It is obvious that the security operatives are overwhelmed,” CAN said.