CAN expresses shock over Lekki shootings, appeals for calm and justice
Rev. Dr. Samson Ayokunle
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has expressed deep shock over the unfortunate wastage of lives of Nigerians who were protesting unarmed against the brutal treatment and killings of Nigerians by the Special Anti Robbery Squad of the Nigeria Police Force on Tuesday, October 20, 2020, at Lekki Tollgate in Lagos State.
Though the military has denied being responsible despite the video and eye witness accounts, CAN in a statement made available to this medium and signed by its president, Rev. Dr. Samson Ayokunle noted that their presence at the scene of the incident does not support their denial.
The statement reads, “Whoever ordered the shooting of unarmed citizens on legitimate protest in a democracy for whatever reason had crossed the red line and had caused more pains for this nation and many parents of these young, promising Nigerians who would have been Nigeria’s future glory. In very strong terms, CAN condemns the dastardly and callous act. It was a minus for our democracy and a scar to be remembered forever.”
The Christian body however appealed to all Nigerians that the arson, wanton destruction of property, infrastructural facilities that have followed the killings, should stop because it would further inflict pains on fellow Nigerians
It posited that the destruction of those properties will lead to the loss of jobs and complicate the already bad situation in the country.
“Ours is a special appeal as spiritual fathers, priests, and prophets to the nation for calm to allow comprehensive peaceful resolution of this situation. An adage says, ‘cutting of one’s head can never be the right medication for a headache.’ From the side of the government, let there be humility that the response to the protest by what happened on Tuesday night at Lekki Tollgate was not good at all.
“In humility, let the government, (especially, Mr. President) speak soft words to the nation to calm nerves and assure all Nigerians that this type of action will never happen again and that the government would act with dispatch on all agitations of the youths.”
CAN also advised culprits in the Lekki tollgate shootings to be brought to book to ensure that those whose lives were wasted got justice.
It also urged that all the relevant stakeholders should be called together to proffer solutions to “the great threat to our nationhood. Wisdom is required and urgently too so that things might not deteriorate further.”
While condoling with families who had lost their loved ones in the unfortunate incident of the past few days, the body advised: “the government to compile the list of those killed nationwide during this protest, especially those shot dead on Tuesday and compensate their families as a way of identifying with them and ameliorating the pains of the irreparable loss.”
It prayed that “the country would rise from this terrible experience to be a better nation where the law enforcement agents are humane and thoroughly professional in the discharge of their duties and our democracy becomes a democracy bringing the dividends of growth and prosperity to all in the nation.”
