The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has blamed Governor Nasir El-Rufai for alleged killings and kidnapping plaguing Kaduna State.
CAN was reacting to a statement by El-Rufai where he threatened to hire foreign mercenaries to help tackle insecurity in the state.
The group stated that the Kaduna governor paying killer Fulani herdsmen some years back is the cause of the current carnage the north is witnessing.
El-rufai was quoted to have made the submissions on Friday while speaking with journalists shortly after briefing President Muhammadu Buhari about the recent attacks and killings in Kaduna State including the attack on the International Airport as well as Monday’s bomb explosion on the Abuja-Kaduna train.
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According to him, the terrorists need to be treated with stronger force than what is obtainable right now.
The Governor stressed that it is obvious the bandit terrorists are getting bolder by the day with every unchallenged attack they launch successfully and are even getting confident about attacking the military.
He lamented why the security agencies have failed to respond to calls for the forests where these bandits are hiding to be bombed and destroyed.
In a statement on Saturday, CAN Chairman in Kaduna, Rev. John Joseph Hayab, claimed that security operatives have refused to condemn the governor over his comments.
CAN pointed out that if any other Nigerian make such an idea in public space, he would have been accused or arrested by the government for undermining the security agencies and the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
CAN said: “The attention of CAN Kaduna State has been drawn to newspapers stories making rounds that Governor Nasir El-Rufai, threatened to deploy foreign mercenaries should the federal government fail to combat banditry and end terrorism.
“While CAN agrees that terrorists have had a field day, CAN reckon that if any other Nigerian had made or muted such an idea in public space, such would have been accused or arrested by the government for undermining the security agencies and the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces.
“Accordingly, CAN doubts if any section of the Nigerian Constitution allows any officeholder, apart from the C in C, to invite a foreign combatant into the country.
“Moreover, it was a similar strategy that El-Rufai employed years back when he claimed to have compensated some herdsmen, which led to the escalation of the security situation, particularly in Kaduna state.
For CAN, the approach to give gunmen money so that they would stop attacking the populace has backfired and Kaduna state is paying dearly for such a miscalculation at present.
“CAN acknowledge that what Nigeria needs currently is a sincerity of purpose from all stakeholders and the citizenry towards finding lasting solutions, not subjective statements that could further heighten the presence of bandits in Nigeria.
“CAN will continue to pray and urge citizens to be on the watch against any erroneous direction that could do this country no good but harm.”
