CAN Urges Presidency to Intervene In Release Of Kidnapped Baptist Church Clergy

By Ayodele Oni

For fear of suffering similar fate like his colleague earlier kidnapped by hoodlums in northern part of the country, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has pleaded with President Muhammadu Buhari, to do something urgent to rescue Rev Popoola David Kayode.

Rev Kayode, of Calvary Baptist Church,  Kurmin Mashi in Kaduna State was reportedly abducted by some unknown gunmen last Tuesday.

The Pastor was abducted 24 hours after the abduction of 121 students of Bethel Baptist High School, Damishin, Chukun Local Government also in Kaduna State.

The district chairman of the Church of Brethren In Nigeria, and CAN chairman of Michika local government in Adamawa state, Rev Lawal Andimi who was abducted last year had his video shared as he was being butchered by Boko Haram mercenaries.

CAN, in a statement, signed by the national secretary, Mr Daramola Bade Joseph, urged the presidency to invoke its power by ordering military and other security agencies to move in and rescue Rev Kayode.

“To us in CAN, we believe that the freedom of the Pastor is a litmus test for the Service Chiefs, especially the new Chief of Army Staff,  Major General Yahaya Farouk and the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba as the world is watching whether they will live up to the expectations or not.

“If the then American President,  Donald Trump, could put his acts together from far away America and ordered his military to rescue only one kidnapped American in Nigeria, then, our President has no excuse not to act decisively and rescue this Servant of God.

“Why should the government leave Nigerians to be at the mercy of the insurgents, bandits and kidnappers?

“What is the essence of having a government in place? The government that did everything to ensure that the leader of IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, was brought back to the country is strong enough to stop these criminalities if the political will is there.

“Mr. President, where shall we go from here? Have the criminals taken over where there is legitimate government?

“Though we are praying earnestly continuously, we know faith without hard work from the side of government is vain. While we are aware that you may be doing your best, your best is not good enough to Nigerians and in the eyes of the whole world.

“The bitter truth is that no place is safe again in this country. It is high time your government rose up to this menace of insecurity challenges occasioned by some criminals who are operating with impunity as terrorists, killer-herdsmen, bandits and armed robbers.

“The impression that is being created in the mind of the people is that the government knows these criminals, refuses to bring them to book, but rather, treats them with kids gloves.

“For example, Sheik Ahmad Gumi has been having unholy romance with them publicly and making unguarded remarks about them yet the government is not bold enough to call him to order.

“All the grave allegations against Sheikh Isa Ali Pantami, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy over his alleged relationship with some notorious religious extremist organisations like Al Qaeda were swept under the carpet by the government that wants the people to believe that it is fighting terrorism.

“We recall how Apostle Johnson Suleiman, Obadiah Mailafia, Prophet Isa El-Buba and the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Dr Matthew Hassan Kukah’s statements were handled by security operatives and equally reacted to by the government.

“Do we truly have sacred cows in the country now? We are curious to know how Gumi was able to locate the whereabouts of the bandits when our security agencies are giving us the impression that they are invincible.

“If the terrorists can be located by an individual, what hinders the police and the military from arresting them and bringing them to book?

“Is anyone in government conniving with the terrorists so that this insecurity might continue? Is Nigeria truly operating two laws?

“Now, bandits are being pampered, money is being made available to them and highly respected politicians and religious leaders are speaking for them.

“Nigeria’s unity is on trial and if those running the country are playing the ostrich, there may be no hope of redemption. May God save our nation.

“History will not overlook the failure of the present administration to fulfil its campaign promises to fix the security challenges.

“The unborn generation will be shocked by the government that was brutal to the peaceful protesters and ‘freedom fighters’ like Sunday Adeyemo (popularly called Sunday Igboho) but was lenient with the hardened criminals who were operating with impunity.

“To reverse this, the President should have a change of heart in his style of governance before it will be too late. 2023 is not an eternity.

“He must stop a situation where Pastors are becoming endangered species under his watch.”