Kaduna/Zaria church bombings: CAN, CHAIN fault Tambuwal’s comment on reprisal

The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, and the Kaduna State Christian Awareness Initiative of Nigeria,  CHAIN, have condemned the statement credited to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Aminu Tambuwal, condemning reprisal attacks in Kaduna following bomb attacks on three churches in the state, Sunday.
Tambuwal had in his statement said it was wrong for innocent people who were not involved in the bombings to be attacked in reprisals.
However, a statement by Kaduna State Chairman of CAN, Rev. Samuel Kujiyat, read: “Though, the suicide bombings unexpectedly, provoked angry protests by youths in Kaduna South and environs, resulting in some people sadly taking the laws into their hands and bringing about deaths, injuries and destruction of property and vehicles of innocent people, this is regrettable and condemnable in all sense. But the reaction of Aminu Tambuwal, appears to be diversionary and political.
“He tends to be only concerned with reprisal attack than on those killed and injured in the attacks against churches and Christians. It is unfortunate and demeaning to his office as a leader in the country to think in this way”
Also, in a statement by its National Coordinator, Pastor Caleb Ma’aji, CHAIN said it did not support citizens who take the laws into their hands and strongly faulted the reaction of Tambuwal on June 17  bombings of churches in Kaduna.
It said it was an unhealthy approach as well as deviating from the reality, which is Boko Haram’s insurgency against Christians in the country.
It said: “This is something every person abreast with issues in Nigeria is aware of and this has continued unabated. While the House of Representatives under the leadership of Tambuwal has failed to take any concrete steps to safeguard lives and property of Christians who have been killed in thousands during worship on Sundays, the Speaker’s statement seems to be more concerned about the reprisal attacks carried out by some youths which is clearly the result of continuous and unabated bombings of peace abiding Christians than the factors that caused the reprisals.
“Meanwhile, CHAIN wants to make a clarion call on government to work and bring to an end the attacks against Christians and their churches in northern Nigeria.
“CHAIN wishes to remind the Nigerian public and the Presidency that Tirkania, one of the areas a church was attacked, is said to be where one suspected Boko Haram sponsor was arrested and released and the case has remained unaddressed.
“The understanding of CHAIN is that the Presidency needs to clean up its house as we cannot be sure anything has been done to counter the increasing threat to the rights to freedom of worship of Christians in northern Nigeria.”
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