The youth wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, has reacted to the claim by the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar III that the terrorist Fulani herdsmen in the country are foreigners and not Nigeria.
David Kadzai, the national president of the youth wing of CAN, expressed shock at the statement by the Sultan saying that that Nigeria ought to know better than to permit foreigners to graze on farmland in the country and to commit acts of violence against Nigerians.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, September 13, 2016, Kadzai indicted the Nigerian Immigration Services for allowing the so-called foreign herdsmen turned terrorists to infiltrate Nigeria. He also said that the youth of CAN disagree with the Sultan on his claims.
“Our worries are the porous nature of our borders and ill-equipped Immigration, security personnel and incessant corrupt practices of these personnel,” the Christian youth leaders said.
“Inasmuch as we do not agree with the Sultan’s assertions, we call on the federal government to beef up our borders and equip our security operatives for a prompt and efficient policing.
“While calling for a complete overhaul of the Nigeria Immigration and declaration of an emergency stringent measures at our borders, a special infiltrators Law must be enacted to check foreign mercenaries or terrorist”, he said.
Kadzai also raised alarm over the emergence of a potentially violent group in northern Nigeria. The group, Islamic Hunters Association, according to him, has taken root in Madagali, Michika and Gwoza in Adamawa and Borno states.
He called on the federal government to look into the operation of the Islamic hunters group before it “turns into another sect of Boko Haram”.
CAN reassured the Sultan and the entire Muslim community in Nigeria that it will continue to build bridges that will unite the entire country. A Nigeria where rule of law and social justice are guaranteed to every Nigerian irrespective of religion, tribe and region.
