The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has sued for peace following the face-off between the Nigerian Army and Muslim faithful of the Shi’ite Islamic movement, which led to death of some members of the sect.
“The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, has observed, with much sadness, the altercation between the Nigerian Army and Muslim faithful of the Shia Islamic movement, which led to loss of lives of an as yet unknown number of Shiites,” a statement signed by The General Secretary of CAN, Dr. Musa Asake, read.
“Our faith is bedrocked on love. We do not only love ourselves, but we also love our neighbors and Shiite Muslims are our neighbors.
“While we will not want to preempt the government and the Nigerian Army, we do however sue for peace.
“We call on President Muhammadu Buhari, as the Commander-in-Chief, to intervene and ensure that there is no escalation of the violence.”
CAN drew the attention of the FG to the fact that similar circumstances as the Kano incident led to the escalation of belligerence from the Jamā’at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da’wah wa’l-Jihād, also known as Boko Haram.
The association, therefore, warned that no harm must befall the spiritual leader of the Shia Islamic movement in Nigeria, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzakky.
“To ensure that another insurgency is not sparked off, we call on the Federal Government to commission a Panel of Inquiry to establish what happened in order to prevent a reoccurrence,” the statement read.
