The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has called on its members across the country, to always respect the doctrines of adherents of other faith, emphasising the need for all faith-based institutions to engage their congregations more efficiently in religious education.
Its national president, Dr Samson Ayokunle who spoke on Arise TV The Morning Show programme on Monday, said students should be taught to report issues to relevant authorities or law enforcement agencies.
“There is a need for religious education so you know what people of other faith around you don’t want and you respect them. If there’s the mutual respect in this nation, there will be peace.
“Don’t take unilateral offence toward anybody that has offended you. Report it appropriately. This is a civilized society. This is not the stone age.
“To the best of my knowledge, I didn’t see the name of any religious leaders being mentioned in all the documents I got from our people in Sokoto, who are Christians.
“Killing that lady and setting her ablaze is one action, too many and it should not be allowed in the guise of any religion to take place again. And I want to warn some religious leaders, who are saying there needs to be a redline.
“In a country where we have democracy, if there’s a red line for you, report it appropriately and let the law enforcement agencies handle it, while I’m also appealing to every Christian to respect other religious groups around you,” he said.
Ayokunle noted that nobody has the right to take unilateral action to terminate the life of another human being.
“If we have been talking to our government and they have not been able to take decisive action in bringing the culprits to book, then the entire world needs to hear. We’ll need to appeal to the international community to help Nigerian Christians.”
He described Deborah’s incident as annoying and barbaric, adding that nobody has the monopoly on the environment.
“If some people are doing this and going scot-free as if it’s the Banana Republic, the state of lawlessness may set in eventually.”
The Sokoto State Police Command on Monday, arraigned the two suspects in connection with the death of the girl before a magistrate’s court.
They have been remanded in the correctional centre pending next hearing.
