Blasphemy allegations, new way to finish up northern Christians – CAN
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Kaduna State chapter said allegations of blasphemy have now become the new excuse by fundamentalists in Northern Nigeria to kill Christians.
A statement by Rev. John Joseph Hayab, state CAN chairman, said this has become the new excuse by extremists to finish the remnant Christians left behind by the siege of Boko Haram terrorists and marauding bandits.
Hayab spoke while reacting to alleged blasphemy against a Christian in Bauchi State.
He stressed that, “Allegations of blasphemy have now become the new excuse by fundamentalists in Northern Nigeria to kill the remnant that bandits and Terrorists have not yet killed.
“How can you justify the period of what happened in Sokoto, the allegation in Borno, the fake allegation on Babachir Lawal by one northern actor who we have on record how he made blasphemous remarks about Jesus Christ but quickly went and brought it down on the internet to cover himself before coming out to falsely accused Babachir Lawal the former SGF and today we are seeing another carnage in Bauchi under the excuse of blasphemy.”
The CAN state chairman stated that Christians now know and have evidence of how some of these allegations of blasphemy are false and just for blackmail or settling scores with passive enemies or well-mannered young girls who have refused sexual advances by the opposite sex from another religion.
“We are also aware of how fanatics have in the past raised lies in the name of blasphemy,” he said.
He added that CAN wonder if the recent sermons they are getting from some Islamic clerics on what the Holy Quran says about what should be done if anyone is accused of blasphemy is unpopular amongst followers?
Rev. Hayab said the challenge now is for Government authorities and security agencies to act fast to address this abuse of the constitution before it leads to a more serious conflict that can not be handled.
He explained that the Nigeria Christians especially those of Northern extraction have for ages exhibited tolerance despite many provocations and lack of reciprocation of their love and friendship, regretting that these new tactics for killing their people from any and every accusation of blasphemy are unacceptable to CAN and all Christian faithful.
“We will not accept this brutal way of murder and inhuman treatment of our followers to continue,” he said.
He said that government and security agencies should come out to enforce the law on every murderer hiding under religion.
Rev. Hayab appealed to Christian leaders and parents to guide their children to resist any ungodly provocation that would make them says things that bloodthirsty fundamentalist can easily use to kill them.
CAN, therefore, appealed to religious leaders from both religious divides to intensify teachings about the evil of taking the laws into one hand and killing another person for whatever reason.
He advised that alleged offenders should be reported to security agencies or taken to any competent court of law for judiciary pronouncement.
“Nigeria is not a banana republic but a nation we believe should be governed by the rule of law,” he said.