The Christian Association of Nigeria has condemned the killing of about 43 rice farmers by the Boko Haram insurgents in Borno State.
The association described the massacre as wicked and completely satanic, stating that the act was inexcusable by those who should have prevented it.
CAN, therefore called on the Federal Government to stop the unending killings by the criminals who now operate with impunity all over the country but more devastatingly in the Northeast and Northwest.
These was contained in a statement released on Friday and signed by Adebayo Oladeji, the Special Assistant (Media &Communications) to the CAN President, His Eminence, Rev Dr. Samson Ayokunle.
The statement was titled ‘Loss of Rice Farmers to Terrorists: A National Disaster and Shame’.
It said, “We are shocked, disturbed, saddened to learn that criminals suspected to be terrorists invaded the Garin Kwashebe community and murdered innocent farmers while harvesting their products.
“As usual, the number of the deceased gruesomely murdered remains disputed by the Federal Government. To us at CAN, 43 was not only frightening but inexcusable by those who should have prevented it. The massacre was wicked and completely satanic.”
CAN said that a situation where farmers were being taxed by the terrorists and bandits before they were allowed to work on their farms was unacceptable and it must be stopped by the government immediately.
The Association further stated, “We are in a recession in the country, yet, criminals are still preventing farmers from going to the farm to harvest. We are not aware of any country where similar lawlessness is taking place without being adequately checked.
“We call on the security agencies to wake up from their prolonged slumber and save their image.
“The government is urged to think out of the box and take adequate steps to bring the terrorists to their knees rather than finding excuses to justify the failure of governance.
“Continuous sympathy through press statements or condolence visits after many souls have been wasted is not acceptable anymore. What we need is adequate protection of lives and property by those we have put in charge to do so.”
The religious body reassures everyone that it would not give up in praying for the nation and giving pieces of advice to the government.