The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has called on security operatives to ensure that perpetrators of murder of Shehu Shagari College of Education student, Deborah Yakubu, on alleged blasphemy are brought to book to prevent recurrent of such beastly killings.

This is contained in a statement signed by CAN’s General Secretary, Joseph Bade Daramola, and made available to The Star.

The umbrella body of Christians in Nigeria, while condemning the gruesome murder of the 200-level student, said failure of the state and security personnel to rise up to such criminalities in the past gave rise to terrorists and bandits.

“The unlawful and dastardly action of the perpetrators must not only be condemned by all right-thinking people but the security operatives must fish them out, prosecute them as it is expected of them. It is the failure of the security agencies and the government to rise up to such criminalities in the past that gave birth to terrorists and bandits. And as long as the State fails to bring these beasts and criminals amidst us to book, so also the society will continue to be their killing fields,” the statement read.

CAN further commended the Sultan of Sokoto for his swift condemnation of the dastardly act and religious intolerance of the perpetrators and called on Sokoto State governor to ensure that the culprits face the consequences of their actions.

“We acknowledge the swift reaction of His Eminence, Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III who not only condemned the criminal and religious intolerant action, but called on the security agencies to bring the perpetrators to justice. It is our expectation that the State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, would ensure that the matter is not swept under the carpet, as it was before,” CAN said.

Bishop Kukah: Killing of Deborah has nothing to do with religion

CAN, however, contended that it recently restrained Christians and forgave Sterling Bank for demeaning and provocative advertisement against Jesus Christ.

“We recall the provocative and demeaning advertisement of the Sterling Bank where the bank compared the Resurrection of Jesus Christ to “Agege bread”, up till now, nobody was attacked and even the CAN leadership has accepted the apology tendered by its Chief Executive, Abubakar Suleiman,” it said.

CAN further described the killing as ungodly, satanic, foolish, reprehensible and totally unacceptable.

While commending Christian students of the college for restraint, CAN called on promoters of religious intolerance and extremism to repent before the wrath of God descends on them should they escape earthly punishment.

“We also call on all teachers and preachers of religious intolerance, extremism and terrorism to repent before the wrath of God descends on them if the State failed to bring them to book. They are agents of death amidst us.”

It prayed that the perpetrators of such despicable act would not set Nigeria ablaze.

“It is our prayers that those vampires in religious garments will not push the country to a religious war,” the body said.

CAN said Nigeria remains non-religious State where no religion is supreme to the other.

While commiserating with the family of the deceased, it reiterated its call to the government and security agencies to punish the culprits. “This is why both the government and the security agencies must stop treating them with kid gloves. Enough is enough.”

It commended Nigerians for condemning the heinous crime.

The Star