24th July, 2014
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has expressed shock and sadness at the explosions that rocked the cities of Kaduna and Kano on Wednesday and Thursday respectively.
The President of CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, stated this in a statement in Abuja on Thursday. Oritsejafor said the association was particularly pained by the innocent lives lost in the attacks.
“CAN received, with shock and dismay, the sad news of bomb explosions in Kaduna and Kano states in which many lives were lost with others injured and property worth huge sums destroyed.
“The attack, coming almost at the climax of the holy month of Ramadan, is a clear indication of the perpetrators’ inclination to evil and disregard for the true God and all that are linked to Him.
“CAN condemns in strong terms the continuation of attacks targeted at high profile Nigerians and revered clerics, who hitherto should be the moral compass for society’s transformation,” he said in the statement.
Oritsejafor expressed regrets at the manner in which the insurgents had continued to waste innocent lives in the name of a ‘yet-to-be-determined agenda’.
“It is also regretful that such an incident act is happening in our communities at this time especially when all faithful are in search for genuine reconciliation with their God and seeking peaceful coexistence with their neighbours.
`”On behalf of the Christian community in Nigeria, I wish to commiserate with all those who lost loved ones or suffered one form of mishap or the other in yesterday’s incident.”
Oritsejafor thanked God for sparing the lives of former Head of State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari and the revered cleric, Sheik Dahiru Bauchi.
“I however thank God for saving the lives of two prominent Nigerians, former Head of State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari and an Islamic Cleric, Dahiru Bauchi, in the bomb attacks.
“This again, is an evidence that God is greater than the perpetrators of these acts and a confirmation that the bombers and their sponsors have a twisted understanding of religion,” the statement quoted Oristejafor as saying.
The CAN president called on all Nigerians not to be dissuaded by the acts of terror on the Nigerian nation.
He urged all faithful to keep faith with relevant authorities as government was doing its best to end the mayhem in the country.
According to the statement, Nigerians should not be dissuaded by these acts of evil and terror on our people, they must not give in at this time will even be more dreadful for our people.
“Rather than tremble in fear, let us all support all relevant agencies of government and our community leaders to fight these terrorists to a standstill.
“I want to remind all faithful, particularly Christians, of the popular verse in the Bible which admonishes one not to fear him who can kill the body but cannot destroy the soul, but to rather fear him who can destroy both body and soul in hell.”
The CAN president called on Nigerians to remain steadfast in prayers and be hopeful that God would intervene at the appropriate time.