The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, has expressed deep pain over the reported killing of an Assistant headteacher in the recent kidnap episode in Ahoro-Esinele and Yawota communities of Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State
It also described the abduction of innocent children in the communities a national humiliation..
The Christian body in a statement on Monday May 18 signed by its President, Archbishop Daniell Okoh noted that the murdered Assistant headteacher tried to protect the children, as well as other innocent victims caught in the horrific attack.
While condemning the attack and abduction of the innocent school children, CAN urged that the sacrifice of the headteacher must never be forgotten,
The body called on security agencies to identify and prosecuted without hesitation those responsible for the horror..
CAN’s statement reads further, “The invasion of schools by armed criminals in broad daylight, the murder of innocent citizens, and the forceful abduction of defenceless children represent a horrifying collapse of security and a direct assault on the conscience of our nation. It is intolerable, disgraceful and utterly unacceptable that Nigerian children can no longer sit safely in classrooms without the fear of being kidnapped by armed gangs.
“CAN is outraged that heavily armed attackers were able to storm multiple schools, terrorise communities, kill innocent people and disappear with dozens of pupils and teachers. This is not merely another security incident. It is a national disgrace and a frightening reminder that organised criminal violence is spreading into parts of the country once considered relatively secure.”
The sight of terrified teachers and helpless mothers pleading for mercy from inside captivity according to CAN ‘is a national humiliation that no responsible society should tolerate. No parent should ever have to watch helplessly as their child is dragged into the forest by gunmen. No teacher should have to choose between educating children and risking abduction or death.
“The continued failure to decisively dismantle kidnapping networks and armed criminal groups is steadily normalising terror across the country. What was once concentrated in parts of northern Nigeria is now spreading dangerously into the South-West and other regions, threatening national stability, public confidence and the safety of future generations.”
It called on the Federal Government, security agencies and the Oyo State Government to move beyond rhetorics and act “Every available security and intelligence resource must be deployed to secure the unconditional release of the abducted victims and bring the perpetrators and their collaborators to justice.
“Nigeria must never surrender its schools, its children or its future to armed criminals. Safe school initiatives must no longer exist only on paper while students and teachers remain exposed to terror. Rural communities, forest corridors and known criminal hideouts must be aggressively secured, monitored and reclaimed without delay.”
The organisation prayed for the safe return of all abducted victims and for comfort, strength and healing for every family affected by this tragedy.
