Guardian

CHRISTIAN leaders have identified Plateau, Bauchi, Kaduna, Yobe, Gombe, Borno states and parts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as places where Nigerians are no longer safe to live, work and perform their religious obligations.

They lamented that the rising cases of killing and destruction of property by a few lawless persons was no longer acceptable to them and urged the Federal Government to rise to the challenge.

In a statement at the end of the 1st Devine Commonwealth Conference in Abuja at the weekend, the over 5,000 bishops, clergy and laity, who attended the event, said the killing of innocent Nigerians, especially Christians in the affected states, was no longer acceptable to them.

Primate of All Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Nicholas Okoh, who convened the conference and signed the statement, commiserated with Nigerians, who are directly affected and others, who have lost their loved ones in the violence.

Okoh said: “We grieve with those of our community who have witnessed this paradox first hand as they have experienced the outrageous and murderous behaviour of some who seek to terrorise, maim and kill Nigerians in defence of a misguided religious perspective.

This shedding of blood of innocent Nigerians in Plateau, Bauchi, Kaduna, Yobe, Gombe, Borno states and parts of the FCT, especially that of Christians, is intolerable. It has been carried on with impunity for too long. It demands decisive and immediate action from the government.”

The leaders also urged Nigerians to challenge corruption and greed in the country and reflect the fear of God in their conducts.

On gay marriage, the Anglican leaders said they were shocked by the recent statement from the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, David Cameron, to the effect that his government would aid only those countries that adhere to “proper human rights. It is clear that his true agenda is to force the normalisation of homosexuality and gay marriage as a “human right.”

He said while the church acknowledged the sacred worth of every human being, “we reject this erroneous notion as contrary to God’s intention for humankind and harmful to those he claims to protect.”

And following the outbreak of violence in Kafanchan on Wednesday, the Kaduna State Police Commissioner, Ballah Nasarawa, has relocated to Kafanchan, the headquarters of Jama’a Local council to ensure return of peace to the area.