The Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), has condemned the
unabated attacks on Christian communities in the Middle Belt, the north and other parts of the country by fulani jihadist militia and Boko Haram insurgents.
The church also expressed disappointment over the failure of the federal government to secure the release of Leah Sharibu and others still in Boko Haram captivity after many years.
In a communique issued at the end its 68th General Church Council meeting which held in Jos, Plateau state, lamented the invasion of communities in the middle belt occasioned by mindless killings, abductions and destruction of property.
The communique which was read by President of ECWA, Rev. Stephen Panya noted that despite several promises by the Buhari-led federal government to secure the release of Sharibu from the terrorists, she is still in captivity.
Sharibu, a member of ECWA, was abducted by Boko Haram insurgents alongside 19 other female students at a boarding school in Dapchi, Yobe State in February 2018.
The communique, said, “Council expresses apprehension that despite all assurances by the federal government to secure our prisoners of conscience such as Leah Sharibu, Grace Lukas, Alice Loksha, Lilian Gyang, Pastor Polycarp Zongo, the remaining Chibok School Girls – these abductees and many others continue to remain in captivity.”
The church reiterated calls on the federal government to do more to produce tangible results.
The communique also “observed with worry the massive and forceful takeover of ungoverned spaces by criminals and non-state actors, who obviously seem to be in control in the country vis-à-vis the seeming inability of the government to decisively deal with the menace as well as protect the citizenry from these prowling merchants of death.
“More specifically, the Council notes the unabated attacks on Christian communities in the Middle Belt, the north, and other parts of the country and the needless destruction of lives and properties by Fulani Jihadist militia and Boko
Haram.
The Council cautioned the government against the continuous politicisation of security matters.
“We condemn in unequivocal terms the systematic genocide being executed against Christian and other autochthonous communities throughout Nigeria, but especially in the Middle Belt.
“This is typically orchestrated through a continuous raid on Christian farming communities with lethal weapons, often in the dead of the night, wherein thousands of our people have been murdered in cold blood and their lands expropriated by the marauding aggressors.”
