•Christian group declares Jan 8 national day of mourning

By Adetutu Folasade-Koyi

Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has disagreed with the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on the number of people killed in the Southern Kaduna crises.
The Catholic Archdiocese of Kafanchan had alleged, earlier, that the unrest in Southern Kaduna has claimed over 808 lives, in 53 villages in the area.
But, Idris disputed the claim in Abuja, on Sunday, at a New Year Dinner organised for personnel.
He stressed “the need for religious, community and political leaders to be patriotic in their endeavours for peace to reign in the country.”
The IGP cautioned Nigerians to avoid unnecessary tension which could lead to destruction of lives and property.
He said Nigerians have no other country than Nigeria, hence, “the need to do those things that would bring peace and unity to the country.”
Idris advised Nigerians to live in peace with one another in spite of religious and ethic differences.
He commended officers and men of the force for their commitment to providing security to all Nigerians across the country.
Idris restated the Nigeria Police Force’s commitment to providing adequate security, without bias to any section of the country.
Meanwhile, CAN has asked Christians in the country and in the Diaspora to wear black clothes to mourn those killed in Southern Kaduna.
CAN General Secretary, Musa Asake, said this in a New Year statement.
“The ongoing silence over the ongoing genocide in Kaduna in the last few weeks speaks volume over perceived official endorsement of the dastardly and ungodly acts,” Asake said in a statement.
“In view of the present predicament, the president of CAN has directed that Sunday, January 8, 2017, should be declared a national day of mourning by Christians, including those in the Diaspora.
“We are to pray fervently for our Southern Kaduna brothers and sisters who are victims of these wanton killings and also for the peace of our dear country, Nigeria.
“Therefore, all Christians are to dress in the mourning attire, black dresses, in all our church services on January 8, 2017.
“We are to pray that God, who delivered the Jews from Haman, should deliver Christians from the Hamans in Nigeria.
“An injustice to one is an injustice to all.”
CAN pleaded with Nigerians to speak up against the “ethnic and religious cleansing to wake up the Nigerian security agencies from their deliberate slumber  to carry out their responsibility.”
The association said Christians in Nigeria have been persecuted since 2009.
“Though the church in Nigeria, since 2009, has been subjected to a systematic genocide and persecution through the instrumentality of Boko Haram, leading to the killings of thousands of Christians and destruction of hundreds of churches, and over 50,000 houses, the current unprecedented onslaught against Christians by Islamic fundamentalists disguising as Fulani herdsmen has reached an alarming stage.
“While we commend President Buhari for waging war against Boko Haram, since his assumption of office, his silence over the ongoing genocide in the last few weeks speaks volume over perceived official endorsement of the dastardly and ungodly acts.”