CAN chair urges Niger warring tribes to end killings

Christian Association of Nigeria. Photo: CAN

The Niger State Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Bishop Bulus Yohanna has urged warring tribes in the state to end the killings and destruction.

Yohanna made this known in a statement wherein he urged the Bargawa, Fulani and Kambari tribes of Agara and Borgue local government areas to sheath their swords and put an end to the killings, maiming and destruction of properties, saying nobody has the right to take the law into his own hands.

The chairman who is also the Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese noted that the clashes and killings between the Kambaris, Fulanis and Bargawa tribes have claimed several lives and rendered people homeless in the Borgu Emirate.

While noting that these tribes had lived peacefully for decades, the Bishop blamed the attacks on those who, he said, infiltrated their communities from other countries.

He stressed, “As a major stakeholder and one who would choose peace and togetherness over crisis, I strongly appeal to all the tribes which include Kambari, Fulani and Bargawa to remain calm and stop the fighting and killing.

“We have lived peacefully for decades and I can only appeal to you all not to allow the bad eggs who have infiltrated our peaceful communities to cause disaffection amongst us.

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“I reject and condemn any form of crime either by destruction, maiming or killing. Let us not take the law into out hands,” Bishop Yohanna said.

The CAN chairman charged the warring tribes to work with security agents to weed out the bad eggs, particularly those working as informants.

Bishop Yohanna also urged the vigilante groups, youths and other interet groups to channel their grievances through the appropriate quarters rather than killing one another.

He equally appealed to the Emir of Borgu, Alhaji Muhammed Dantoro to set up peace and conflict resolution committees to help the different tribes talk and solve problems fairly and commended President Bola Tinubu and Governor Umaru Bago for their roles in ensuring that security is beefed up in Agwara and Borgu communities.

 “Let us embrace peace. I believe the government, security agencies and well meaning individuals can handle the situation and bring lasting peace,” he admonished the warring parties.