Nasarawa CAN Accuses Fulani Herders Over Gruesome Killing Of Rev.Kura

Rabiu Omaku

• Direct its members to defend themselves if govt failed to quell the situation

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Nasarawa Chapter has raised alarm over the gruesome killing of CAN chairman of Obi local government, Reverend Joseph Zakariah Kura, the overseer of Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) Obi.

The chairman, Bishop Doctor Joseph George Masin hinted this during a press briefing held at CAN secretariat, the chairman revealed that late Rev.Kura was murdered by people identified to be Fulani herders when he was in the bush gathering timber to re-roof his church building.

CAN described the brutal and barbaric manner Rev.Kura was killed as worrisome, adding that his assailants cut off his two hands and watched him bleed to death, the church expressed concerned over the wave of continued attacks and killings of its members on their farms.

Saying the attacks and killings has taken another dimension with the elimination of pastors, he however said this portray the state in a bad light especially at this time of history when we are yarning and praying for moral rebirth and national transformation.

“The state has undergone spate of attacks and killings especially in Christian dominated communities, our members cannot go back to their farms or homes, adding that two of their female followers were abducted and foist to convert to Islam and married without the consent of their parents.

The secretariat listed Happiness Benjamin and Adoyi Benjamin as those force to convert to Islam as well foist to married without the consent of their parents.

CAN also accused concerned authorities for not approving lands for the building of churches while existing churches were destroyed and culprits not brought to book, the Association has called on it members in the state to be ready to defend themselves.

If we said our members should defend themselves against any aggression we are not telling to carry along deadly weapons, though self-defense is allowed, said the secretary of CAN, Yohanna Samari.

The Association commended the state governor in his effort to maintain peace ,law and order, urging the state government to properly investigate the issue and bring the perpetrators of the killings to book.

They also urged the state government to urgently permit and provide security to all IDP’s to enable them go back to their homes, urging the security agencies to be more proactive in quelling any gory situation.