From Yakubu Busari,Jos
A group under the aegis of Christian Women on the Plateau for Peace and Security, on Wednesday staged a peaceful protest and called for the release of Leah Sharibu, including the the remaining Chibok girls yet to regain freedom after the peace deal between the Federal Government and Boko Haram terrorists, three years after their abduction.
The President of CAN, Dr. Samson Ayokunle, in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media and Communications, Deacon Adebayo Oladeji, on Wednesday in Jos, called on all Christians to use the Passion Week to pray for the country “to be free from all forces of darkness and for those who have lost their relations or property during the recent terror and herdsmen attacks.”
General Secretary of the women organisation, Joy Machunga, and Senior Pastor, JCMI Mrs Esther Ibanga expressed deep concern over the fate of Leah Sharibu in the hands of her captors.
The women group raised the alarm that over 50 communities in Barkin Ladi, Bassa, Bokkos, Riyom, Jos south Wase and Kanam Local Government Areas have been viciously attack, sacked and dispossessed of their central lands, farms, properties by heavily armed gunmen with women and children rendered destitute windows and orphaned.
“Here we are gathered to express our heartfelt anguish, sorrow and concern over the continued captivity and the current plight of our daughter and sister, 14 years old Liya Sharibu, one of girls kidnapped by Boko Haram insurgents on the February, 19 from Government Girls Science and Technical College, Dapchi in Yobe state.
“We condemn that she remains in the clutches of the ruthless terrorist group today for the single reason that she is a Christian and she refused to denounce her faith. We share in her identity and her calamity for it has become crystal clear that Christians in Nigeria, especially the Northern parts are increasingly becoming endangered species.”
We the Christian women on the Plateau wish to remind the President and Commander- in -Chief of the Nigerian armed forces of his promise to Nigeria during his 2015 inauguration speech in which he said he belonged to nobody and everybody.
They appealed to government to set up a task force comprising of credible government and civil society members including women groups to take charge of the responsibility of resettling and rehabilitating IDP in the state.
Sympathising with the women, the Speaker Plateau State House Assembly, said the 8th Assembly shared in their moment of grief, “especially in a time our own daughter needed us more.”
“The Plateau state joins the family, women, state and federal governments to condemned the kidnapping of females by the Boko Haram sects in the Northeaster Nigeria .
“The case of Leah Sharibu is a clear testimony that many women are treated as endangered species. We call on the federal government to use any available means to secure the release of Leah from the hands of her captors .
Also member representing Mikang constituency, Naanlong Daniel condemned the unwarranted killings and kidnapping of the girl child.
He called on federal federal republic of Nigeria to wake up to their responsible of protecting the live and property of the citizens and unfortunate that three years down the line chibok girls are still missing .
Ayokunle said: “What should our attitude be during the Passion Week? We should be passionate in our worship of Jesus and in our proclamation of His Gospel! As He suffered for us, so should we be willing to suffer for the cause of following Him and proclaiming the message of His death and resurrection.
“It is in the light of this, that the leadership of CAN is calling on every Christian nationwide to stand in the gap for that innocent girl, Leah Sharibu, at 12 noon on Good Friday, asking God to send His angels to deliver her from captivity as He did for Apostle Peter who was jailed unjustly.”
“They should stop all the terrorist abductions and the Fulani herdsmen killings or resign from their offices to give room for those who could guarantee our security and safety.”
