by Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
A group, known as the ‘Christian Rights Agenda’ (CRA) recently said it is watching with utter display, events in Benue, Plateau and other troubled spots in Nigeria in the renewed terror attacks where the lives of Christians and other innocent Nigerians have become endangered.
“There has been renewed attacks in Benue and Plateau in the last three weeks, which has claimed several lives, properties, and rendered several people homeless,” CRA stated.
These attacks, according to CRA appear to be well coordinated and have the trappings of a terrorism by insurgents, who are bent on fostering a regime of violence, religious intolerance, total anarchy, and genocidal, describing it as unacceptable.
Secretary-General of CRA, Reverend Kallamu Musa Ali Dikwa, who disclosed this in a statement, said that, already officials of CRA have been sent on field operations to Benue, Plateau and Borno States to gather first-hand information on the extent of devastation suffered by Christians in the affected areas.
CRA added that, “Preliminary report from the field indicates that over 80 communities have been taken over by the Fulani terrorist, operating under the guise of ‘Islamic West African Province’ (ISWAP).
The secretary-general said his organization is in the process of collating information to have an up-to-date data of how persecution of Nigerian Christians is widening-up, especially in northern Nigeria.
While commending the new Matching Order given to security operatives by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to step-up their game, CRA cautioned that such orders should go beyond its optics and ensure that the orders are followed and defaulters are sanctioned as a deterrent to other saboteurs.
The statement also cautioned State Governors not to politicize the renewed killings but should be honourable enough to “call a spade by its real name.”