Northern Christians, under the aegis of Hausa Christians Foundation, HACFO, has frowned on the continuous indiscriminate killings of Nigerians in Benue, Jos, Southern Kaduna, Zamfara State and other places by herdsmen.
In a communique issued after its National Conference of the Hausa Christian Youths in Kaduna, the group also condemned the continued incarceration of lone teen Christian hostage, Leah Sharibu, urging President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure her release before the ultimatum given by her captors was over.
A communiqué signed by Committee Secretary, Rahila Dauda, reads: “We urge the Federal Government to, as a matter of urgency, do everything possible within its powers to ensure that the killings stop and the perpetrators are brought to book.”
The group appealed to President Buhari to ensure that Leah Sharibu who had been in the detention of Boko Haram for her refusal to deny her faith in Christ, was rescued alive and reunited with her family.
It pointed out that ”Leah Sharibu is not just a Christian, but a citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. ”We, therefore, plead with the Federal Government to do everything within its power to ensure her release before the ultimatum given by her captors is over.”
The group frowned on the forcible kidnapping and Islamization of young Christian girls by some Muslims who usually enjoy the backing of the governments of Northern states of Nigeria.
“The act inflicts pains on the parents, denies the girls access to education, and destroys the self-worth of the girl child due to the inhuman treatment they receive in Islamic captivity.
”The conference also frowned on the unjust ceasing of our farmlands and the continuous marginalization Northern Christians, especially Hausa Christians, have been subjected,” it stated.
According to the group, such ungodly acts constitute a threat to the peaceful co-existence and religious tolerance between the Christians and Muslims in Northern Nigeria.
The conference was attended by special guests drawn from across the 19 states in Northern Nigeria, including the chairperson of Kaduna State Independent Electoral Commission, Dr. Mrs Saratu Dikko, Mr. Timothy Gandu, former Principal Private Secretary to former governor of Kaduna State, Patrick Yakowa and many others.
