The Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Bishop of the Niger, Right Rev Owen Nwokolo, has condemned the recent widespread attacks by Fulani herdsmen, which has led to killing of innocent farmers and sacking of whole communities, urging President Muhammadu Buhari to speak out on the wanton destruction of life and property as victims may be compelled to take the suspicious official silence as indirect endorsement.

Rev Nwokolo who addressed journalists in Onitsha as part of the Easter message, posited that the signs were strong that the present government is tilting towards islamising the country.

His words: “Islamic Jihads have different colouration. It may include government taking policies to deprive people from accepting a religion that is contrary to their faith. There are some pointers that there could be an agenda by the Buhari-led administration to Islamise Nigeria, because during his time as military head of state, we heard about Sharia and (Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC). And now, we are hearing of Fulani herdsmen who are moving round the country with sophisticated weapons killing people.”

He noted that Christians would resist such attempts because, “the country’s Constitution is clear on issues of religion when it guaranteed freedom of religion and made the country a secular nation. The body language of a leader may show that he is supporting an agenda. That is what we believe is happening.”

The Anglican Bishop stressed that if government doesn’t make haste to take drastic measures against such terrorising acts, we would be compelled to think that possibly, it’s again tilting towards forcing people to accept a religion other than theirs. “But Christians will resist that. It will not stand because we have studied some of the Islamic agenda, and it is this way they usually begin spreading terror.

Unimpressed with certain measures taken by some state governors, the cleric noted that Christians have the right to live and be allowed to enjoy such rights without any interference, saying that a delegation has been sent to speak to the Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, to state the mind of Christians on the issue of freedom of religion as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).

“We will continue to speak against any attempts by anybody to deprive Christians in any part of the country of their rights. Even where they have approved Sharia law, it does not stop Christians from practising their religion.”

•Photo shows President Buhari.

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