CAN condemns release of alleged killers of pastor’s wife

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has described the release of five suspects remanded in prison custody over the killing of Mrs. Bridget Agbahime in Kano State as an invitation to chaos nationwide.

The group called on President Muhammadu Buhari and the South-East governors to rise to the occasion not to jeopardise the life of Ndigbo and other Nigerians resident in the North.

The CAN Secretary in Enugu State, Dr. Joseph Ajujungwa, who stated this yesterday during the association’s executive committee meeting in the capital, also commended Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for the way he had handled the issues of security of lives and property and his developmental projects.

He said the action of the Kano State government over the killing of Mrs. Agbahime would further embolden religious fanatics and other criminal elements to freely attack Christians across the country under the cover of religion.

He stressed: “It is indeed with shock that we received the news that the five suspects standing trial over the murder of Mrs. Agbahime, wife of a pastor from Imo State, have been discharged and acquitted.

“We are so much shocked that the Kano State government through its attorney-general could make a no-case submission on a matter as grievous as this. An innocent woman was murdered in cold blood and we had expected that at least to show its disapproval of any form of mindless killing, the state government would prosecute this matter judiciously but we have been totally disappointed.

“This development is indeed an invitation to anarchy and highly dangerous to already tense situation in the country. Government’s refusal to serve the course of justice in this case, will now leave the life of Christians in the hands of hoodlums.

“We are calling on the Federal Government and the South-East governors to rise to the occasion and find a way of reversing this grave injustice.

“While we commend Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi over his visionary leadership in Enugu State, we plead with him to liaise with his colleagues, especially Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, to ensure justice for the Agbahime family.”