Death of priest: CAN Asks Buhari To Stop Killing Of Religious Leaders

• CAN
• The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, has asked the Federal Government to put an end to the abduction and killing of religious leaders by bandits in the country.

CAN’s Vice Chairman (Northern region), Rev. John Hayab, was reacting to the killing of a catholic priest of the Minna Catholic diocese, Fr. John Gbakaan during the weekend. A Catholic Priest of the Diocese of Minna, Reverend Father John Gbakaan Yaji, was reportedly killed by bandits in Niger state.

Eko hot blog gathered that the Priest was first kidnapped before he was killed by the bandits. His body was discovered on Sunday.

The priest according to reports was kidnapped on Friday night alongside his brother in Tufa village along LambataLapai road on his way to his station after a religious meeting in Lambata.

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Reverend of the Catholic Diocese of Minna, who pleaded anonymity, confirmed the incident, saying that search has intensified towards recovering the younger brother of the priest.

Meanwhile, reacting to the development, Rev. Hayab described the killing of the Catholic priest as ‘shocking and painful’, stating that insecurity in the North has assumed a more alarming dimension. Hayab said.

“We received the news of the kidnapped and killing of our dear Rev Father John with great shock and pains. “Sadly, those in power are wanting us to be singing their praises while our loved ones are being killed.

No responsible citizen will enjoy criticising his leaders for fun or because he hates them. Citizens criticise leaders so that they will sit up and do what is right. “Today in Northern Nigeria many people are living in fear and many young people are afraid to become pastors because pastors’ lives are in great danger.

“When Bandits or kidnappers realised that their victims are a priest or pastors it seems a violent spirit do take over their heart to demand more ransom and in some cases go to the extent of killing the victim.

“We are simply pleading to the Federal Government and all security agencies to do whatever it will take to bring this evil to a stop.