President of the Christian Association Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Samson Ayokunle, has called on the Federal Government, and all security agencies, to free Leah Sharibu, the Chibok girls and others in captivity of Boko Haram immediately, “before it is too late.”
Ayokunle made the call in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja, yesterday, where he said it is their constitutional responsibility.
The cleric described the captives as too young to die and also called on religious and political leaders to collaborate with the civil society organisations and international agencies to stop untimely deaths in the country.
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“The untimely deaths of citizens have given Nigeria a bad name worldwide as a barbaric nation where value is not attached to human life.
“Many Nigerians die untimely due to unchecked murderous activities of gunmen and Fulani herdsmen by law enforcement agents. This has put sorrow in many people and communities all over the nation, especially, the North.”
He urged all Nigerians to join the Ecumenism for Development and Peace Initiative (EDAPI), to promote this initiative tagged “Too young to die” campaign so as to avert untimely, careless and avoidable deaths.
Also, EDAPI Director, Rev. Testimony Onifade, called on the federal government, embassies, schools, churches and other public and private institutions to join the CAN president in his bid to reduce the menace of untimely death.
“The cry is Leah Sharibu is too young to die in captivity of Boko Haram; Nigerian youths are too young to continue to die in Mediterranean sea or Libya desert in search for livelihood.
“Even a 70 year-old man is too young to die in the hand of Fulani herdsmen, human traffickers and ritualists,” Onifade said.
Onifade said the objective of EDAPI is to sensitise and equip the grassroots religious actors toward achieving peace and development.
“The ‘too young to die’ campaign solicits the support of all stakeholders; within and outside the country for immediate action.”