CAN tells Buhari to put an end to abduction of Christian girls by Emirs.

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has warned President Muhammadu Buhari about a “gathering cloud of crisis” if an end is not brought to the abduction and eventual marriage of young Christian girls to traditional rulers and Emirs in the North.

The executive committee of CAN in the North said this when they visited the President on Thursday.

The Northern CAN Chairman, Yakubu Pam? who spoke with State House correspondents after the meeting also spoke about the issue of attacks on farmers by Fulani herdsmen.

He said, “We came to present ourselves as the Northern CAN chapter to the President and to tell him some of the challenges that Northern Christians are passing through.

“One of those challenges is that we are having difficulties in expressing our faith in the northern part of the country. We have also told him some of the difficulties we are passing through with the Fulani herdsmen.

“The farmers need to be protected and in fact, we told the President that we have been encouraging our youths to go into farming and they need to be protected and when they come into the city, there is no employment; that is why farmers must be protected.

“We also talked on the issue of girl child abduction in the North. In some Northern states, some young girls and children are being abducted at 12 years old and the parents will just hear that the girls have been married to traditional rulers and emirs.

“This is gathering a cloud of crisis already and if that is not taken care of it will lead to a serious crisis. These are the issues we told the President.

“We congratulated him on the wedding of his daughter, the fight against corruption and Boko Haram war as people have started returning to their homes; as well on the return of the Chibok girls,” he stated.

Borno Emirs Return Home Two Years After Fleeing Boko Haram Insurgency

Two out of the five Borno emirs forced to flee their domain by Boko Haram terrorists, have returned to their palaces.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the emirs fled to Maiduguri two years ago when the insurgents took control of their domain in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of the state. The insurgents took control of the area in August 2015 and announced establishment of Caliphate rule, forcing residents including the emirs to flee. The insurgents were however mauled down by the military who took total control of the area and restored normalcy.

The two emirs, Alhaji Muhammadu Askirama of Askira, and Alhaji Ismaila Mamza of Uba, returned to their respective palaces on Tuesday in company of Borno Deputy Governor, Alhaji Mamman Durkuwa.

 

Speaking at a short ceremony at their palaces, the emirs commended the Nigerian military for their gallantry in routing the Boko Haram terrorists. They expressed optimism that terrorism would end soon in the country, going by the successes being recorded by the military. Also speaking,

Also speaking, Durkuwa assured the emirs that the government would undertake projects to restore life back to the area. The deputy governor urged residents to be law abiding and report any sign of security threat to relevant agencies.

 

Three other emirs yet to return to their domain include the Emir of Bama, Alhaji Kyari El-Kanemi, Emir of Dikwa, Muhammad Ibn Masta, and Chief of Gwoza Alhaji Muhammad Timta. The three are still residing in Maiduguri, the state capital.

 

(NAN)