CAN Reacts To Leah Sharibu’s Death Sentence

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The Christian Association Nigeria (CAN) has reacted to the death sentence recently passed on Ms. Leah Sharibu by members of the Boko Haram terrorist group.

Sharibu, who is the only remaining captive among the 110 schoolgirls abducted from the Government Girls Science and Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe State in March, has remained in captivity of the insurgents for refusing to denounce her Christian faith.

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A faction of the Boko Haram sect, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), had announced recently that it would execute Ms Sharibu and two other humanitarian workers in their captivity in the manner they executed one Saifura Ahmed.

Reacting to the threat, CAN President, Rev Dr Samson Ayokunle, urged the Federal Government to secure the release of Sharibu and the other Boko Haram captives before they are killed.

Speaking through his Special Assistant on Media and Communications, Pastor Adebayo Oladeji, the CAN President noted that the Dapchi schoolgirl was too young to die.

He said this during the flag off of ‘Ecumenism for Development and Peace Initiative(EDAPI)’ which is a non-governmental organization whose slogan is “#…TOO YOUNG TO DIE’ at the Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary, Ogbomoso.

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The statement said Ayokunle “regrets that many Nigerians die untimely due to unchecked murderous activities of gunmen and Fulani herdsmen by the law enforcement agents. This has put sorrow in many people and communities all over the nation, especially, the north.

“It is regrettable that many Nigerians are living in poverty and are not able to fulfil their dreams because of low income or lack of employment at all. Substantial welfare policy as well is not forthcoming from government.

“A very sad case is that of Leah Sharibu and the Chibok girls that are still in captivity for months and years now either because of their faith or religious malady of some crazy Islamic fundamentalists. I call on the Federal Government and the security agencies to put their acts together and release all the captives before it is too late. These people are too young to die. It is the constitutional responsibility of government to protect lives and property of the governed.

“EDAPI ( non-governmental organisation) observes the happenings in our society and it is out to speak for all those in captivity and communities that are under constant attacks, especially in the north of the country. whereby lives are being lost on daily basis, for decades with impunity. He urged all to therefore join EDAPI to promote this initiative tagged #…too young to die# campaign so as to avert untimely, careless and avoidable deaths. Safe a life today,” said the CAN President.

He continued, “EDAPI says NO to: careless driving, burn out, ethnic violence, rioting, suicide bombing, human trafficking, bloodshed, drug abuse, religious violence, political thuggery, cultism, domestic violence, abortion, alcoholism, ritual killings etc”.

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The CAN President who is also the President, the Nigerian Baptist Convention appeals to private and public sectors to embrace EDAPI whose mission is “To improve the well-being and rights of the less privileged through holistic empowerment approach, inter-faith relationships, community mobilization, peace work, reconciliation, research and advocacy for effective and self-driven societal transformation without any form of discrimination.”

On his part, the Director of the programme, Rev Dr Testimony Onifade, called on governments, embassies, school campuses, churches and other public and private institutions to join the CAN President in his bid to reduce the menace of untimely death listed in the objectives of EDAPI.

Onifade identified such objectives of EDAPI to include:

* Sensitise and equip the grassroots religious actors towards achieving peace and development.

* Mobilise and create strategic drive to strengthen alliance against violence and extremism across age groups; especially youths,communities and religious leaders as a whole.

* Facilitate peaceful coexistence and harmonious relationship through synergy and dialogue.

* Strengthen and assist the needy and less privileged in our society.

* Network and cooperate with other development partners in order to engender sustainable development.

He added that, “the #…too young to die# campaign do solicit for support of all stakeholders within and outside the country for immediate action. The cry is Leah Sharibu is too young to die in captivity of boko haram; Nigerian youths are too young to continue to die in Mediterranean sea or Libya desert in search for livelihood. Even a seventy years old man is too young to die in the hand of Fulani herdsmen, human traffickers, ritualists, and by medical mismanagement of all sorts. EDAPI will soon launch out this campaign in Lagos, Abuja and other geo- political zones of the country.

“We solicit for your assistance in making this known to the public through your popular credible media.”

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