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Tag: CAN Chairman

  • Over 50 Pastors and Youth Groups Demand Immediate Reconstruction of Demolished EYN Church

    Over 50 Pastors and Youth Groups Demand Immediate Reconstruction of Demolished EYN Church

    …Passes Vote Of No Confidence On CAN Chairman In Borno.

    From Dauda R Pam Maiduguri

    No fewer than 50 inter-denominational Pastors and youth groups, Friday, converged at the demolished site of the Church of Brethren, Ekklisiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN), Maduganari in Maiduguri Borno state capital.

    With a call on Governor Babagana Umara Zulum, to immediately reconstruct the destroyed Church building, its pure water factory and security post among other facilities destroyed by officials of Borno Geographic Information System (BOGIS).

    The dastardly act which has since attracted outright condemnation by section of the society over the demolition of the church and subsequent firing of gun shots by a member of Civilian Joint Task Force, CJTF, as well as some persons who hurled stones at the task force during an encounter, Thursday, with officials of BOGIS, led by its Executive Secretary, Enginneer Adam Bukar Bababe resulting to the death of one person and several others in hospital.

    In a swift reaction, the Borno State Governor, BABAGANA UMARA ZULUM in a state wide broadcast, appealed for calm, and ordered for immediate investigation into the matter, so as to punish anyone found wanting.

    And has equally delegated his Deputy, Umar Usman Kadafur we who visited the victims at the hospital and ordered for settlement of their medical bills.

    Addressing a press conference at the demolished site of the EYN Church on Friday,the Pastor in charge, Reverend Shawulu Auta Ndahi, condemned the killing of one of his church member while attempting to protect the Church from demolition.

    He said, there is nothing worth on earth that can compensate life and placed a request to the State Government to immediately assist the families of the deceased and those who sustained gunshot wounds currently recieving treatment at a State Specialist Hospital, Maiduguri.

    Hear him,”We have gathered here today to express our displeasure over what has happened to our Church and its members.

    “Yesterday (Thursday) morning at about 11am, we recieved a distress call that some officials of BOGIS in company of some CJTF and graders came and demolished our Church with all facilities destroyed.

    “In the process, some of our aggrieved members started hurling stones at the officials of BOGIS, before Some CJTF members opened fire after seizing their communication gadjets, which led to the killing of Mr. Ezekiel Bitrus, May His Gentle Soul Rest In Peace.

    “In view of these unwholesome conduct, we are hereby displaying all our Certificate of Occupancy and other relevant Documents used in acquiring this land which are legal documents.

    ” Therefore, as a Church which believe in peace and unity, we have some immediate demands for Governor Zulum to; Immediatelly reconstruct our demolished Church and other facilities including our pure water factory.

    “Although, there is nothing worth on earth that can compensate life, we request the State Government to immediately assist the families of the deceased and those who sustained gunshot wounds currently recieving treatment at a State Specialist Hospital, Maiduguri.

    ” We called on the state government to immediately remove Engineer Adam Bukar Bababe from heading BOGIS which is an agency of government tasked with responsibility of land maintenance.

    “The Church which has 99% of its membership are citizens of Borno, also want the State Government to lift the ban on the teaching of Christian Religious Knowledge(CRK) in all our Primary and Secondary schools as it has been the practice in the past, as the constitution allows for freedom of worship in the country.” The Pastor in charge stated.

    Similarly, the Youth CAN Chairman Metro, Mr. Sunday Ishaku,in his remarks condemned in strong terms the unfortunate incident on behalf of Christian Youth Groups and prayed for the repose of the soul of the deceased and quick recovery of those who sustained injuries during the fracas.

    The CAN youth chairman used the occasion to pass a vote of no confidence on the state CAN Chairman, Bishop Mohammed Naga, whom he alleged led some officials and individuals to meet with Governor Zulum some hours after the incident at the Government House just for their selfish interest.

    “We are disappointed with the CAN leadership under the Chairmanship of Bishop Mohammed Naga, becuase as I address you today, Bishop Naga has failed to officially come out with a statement regarding this unwholesome treatment meted to us by BOGIS and men of CJTF”.

  • Outrage as gunmen kidnap CAN Chairman

    Outrage as gunmen kidnap CAN Chairman

    …abductors demand N20m ransom

    Christian community in Nasarawa state has condemned the kidnap of the Association’s Chairman in the state, Mr. Joseph Masin yesterday.

    The kidnap of Mr. Masin was confirmed by the State Police Commissioner, Bola Longe in Lafia, the state capital yesterday morning.

    He told journalists that the bishop was taken from his house in Bukan-sidi in Lafia around 12:39 a.m. Thursday and that the police have mobilised officers as well as hunters to free the cleric.

    Corroborating the incident a former Secretary of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN in the state, Mr. Yohanna Samari said the bishop was abducted by the attackers at midnight at his Bukan-sidi residence.

    According to Mr. Samari the abductors took the CAN Chairman away on a motorcycle explaining however, that nobody was hurt during the incident but the family had been greatly traumatised.

    Tayo Samuel, the CAN Vice Chairman in the state, said the abductors had contacted the family, demanding N20 million ransom.

  • Buhari condemns killing of CAN Chairman, Andimi

    Buhari condemns killing of CAN Chairman, Andimi

    President Muhammadu Buhari has condemned the terrorist killing of Lawan Andimi, chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Michika local government area of Adamawa, describing it as cruel, inhuman and deliberately provocative.

    The president stated this in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, in Abuja on Tuesday.

    Buhari regretted that the terrorists killed the religious leader while giving signals of a willingness to set him free by releasing him to third parties.

    He consoled the Christian community all over Nigeria, the government and people of Adamawa as well as the Bishop’s family over the sad loss of the man of God.

    He said that terrorists would continue to pay a heavy price for their actions and ”comprehensively be defeated by our determined armed forces”.

    The president urged nations of the world to end all support provided to the Boko Haram and Islamic States in West Africa (ISWA) terrorist groups whose only goal was to sow death, violence and destruction in the sub-region.

    Ahmad Salkida, a journalist with years of experience reporting the activities of the Boko Haram insurgents, in a series of tweets said Andimi was killed on Monday.

    “To break some news items can traumatize. I’m battling with one of such. Reverend Andimi, abducted by #BokoHaram was executed yesterday,” Salkida tweeted.

    Late Andimi was abducted in January when the insurgents attacked his village.(NAN)

  • MURIC condemns killing of CAN Chairman, Andimi

    MURIC condemns killing of CAN Chairman, Andimi

    An Islamic group, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has condemned the murder of Lawan Andimi, chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Michika local government area of Adamawa, describing it as horrendous, ungodly and barbaric.

    The MURIC director, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, in a statement issued and signed in Lagos on Wednesday, said that anyone who kills innocent people does not represent Islam.

    “We are at a loss for words. This killing is horrendous, ungodly and barbaric.

    “We condemn it in the strongest terms possible.  We reiterate our earlier declaration that Boko Haram is not an Islamic group, rather it is a group of misled zealots.

    “Any group that kills at will and sheds the blood of innocent people cannot represent Islam,” he said.

    “We call on all Nigerians regardless of religious background to unite against Boko Haram. We must stand up together to fight the evil in our midst,” he said.

    “We charge the Nigerian military to leave no stone unturned in its efforts to eliminate the insurgents.

    “Our hearts are heavy as we remember the bereaved family. But we are assured in the global reach of God’s divine umbrella.

    “Only Him can console them. Only Him can heal. We pray that the Almighty God will give succour to members of the deceased’s family, his friends and associates,” he said.

    He commiserated with the leadership of CAN in particular and the Nigerian Christian community in general.

    He added that it was only patience and statesmanship that had kept Nigeria going in times like this.

    “We are all losing our loved and respected clerics, friends and family members.

    “We are all victims. Let us console ourselves and strengthen our position with prayers instead of resorting to blame game,” he said. (NAN)