The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has slammed the Presidency over comment on killing of rice farmers by Boko Haram in Borno State.
Recall Garba Shehu, Presidential Spokesperson, had said the slain rice farmers got no clearance from the military before going into the farm.
But in a statement signed by Adebayo Oladeji, the Special Assistant Media and Communications to the CAN President, His Eminence, Rev Dr. Samson Ayokunle, the association said no excuse can be acceptable by those who ought to have protected the farmers from being killed by the insurgents.
“We are shocked, disturbed, saddened to learn that criminals suspected to be terrorists invaded the Garin Kwashebe community and murdered innocent farmers while harvesting their products,” the statement reads.
“As usual, the number of the deceased gruesomely murdered remains disputed by the Federal Government. To us at CAN, 43 was not only frightening but inexcusable by those who should have prevented it. The massacre was wicked and completely satanic.”
CAN said that a situation where farmers were being taxed by the terrorists and bandits before they were allowed to work on their farms was unacceptable and it must be stopped by the government immediately.
“We are in a recession in the country, yet, criminals are still preventing farmers from going to the farm to harvest. We are not aware of any country where similar lawlessness is taking place without being adequately checked,” the statement further reads.
“We call on the security agencies to wake up from their prolonged slumber and save their image.
“The government is urged to think out of the box and take adequate steps to bring the terrorists to their knees rather than finding excuses to justify the failure of governance.
“Continuous sympathy through press statements or condolence visits after many souls have been wasted is not acceptable anymore. What we need is adequate protection of lives and property by those we have put in charge to do so.”
