The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has asked the US government for the data that was used to remove Nigeria from the list of “Countries of Particular Concern” for religious freedom.
Boko Haram, Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP), bandits, and violent herdsmen continue to attack Christians, according to CAN.
In a statement released on Saturday, the President, Rev Samson Ayokunle, expressed sorrow that America had not contacted the body before making its decision.
CAN would have compared their numbers then and today with its own, according to the head.
“The prayer is Nigeria would be a country where no religious group is persecuted and our government ensures religiously-biased policies are terminated,” he stated, whatever the limitations.
Terrorists’ goal, according to the President, is to “wipe out Christianity and establish Islam as the sole religion from the North to the Atlantic Ocean in the South.”
The robbers have joined other radical Islamic groups, according to Ayokunle, who says they are “ferociously targeting churches, killing worshippers, and kidnapping for ransom.”
“The herdsmen are also wreaking mayhem.” Many people and places of worship have perished as a result of their attacks.
“The craziness has escalated, and non-Christians are now being attacked, killed, and kidnapped.”
“This is because kidnapping has become a lucrative business, and you can kidnap anyone for money!”
All right-thinking people, according to Ayokunle, will continue to press the US to inform the rest of the world about the changes.
The preacher used instances to criticize numerous Northern states of failing to reform a policy that denies Christians the right to establish churches by denying them a Certificate of Occupancy.
He expressed his dissatisfaction with the fact that Christian kids are not permitted to pursue Christian Religious Studies in public schools.
Christian students, according to Ayokunle, are denied admittance to government colleges to pursue disciplines such as law and medicine, among others.
Leah Sharibu and the kids kidnapped from Bethel Baptist High School were left with the kidnappers “without any planned rescue mission,” according to the statement.
“Kidnapped people’s family and churches are being compelled to pay ransoms costing millions of Naira in order to secure their folks or children!”
“The federal government has declined to classify bandits as terrorists because it does not consider banditry to be terrorism.” Whose benefit is this?
“Is it because the bandits are close to those in government or because of religious consideration?”, Ayokunle quipped.
He expressed dismay that terrorists who surrendered or were captured are not prosecuted but cared for under the Buhari administration’s rehabilitation programme.
“These people sent many people to early graves! Is this action of government fair to the people they killed and the rest of us traumatized and put in sadness.”.
Ayokunle disclosed that religious persecution and discrimination will be discussed at the next Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC).
This, according to him, would douse tension and foster a harmonious relationship between religious adherents in the country
This, he claims, will reduce tensions and build a healthy connection among religious believers in the country.
