CAN begs Buhari: Rescue pastor held by Boko Haram
More than two months after his capture by Boko Haram insurgents, Pastor Yakuru of EYN Church of the Brethren in Borno State is still being held captive, the Christian Association of Nigeria said on Saturday.
The President of CAN, Dr Samson Ayokunle, said these in a statement titled, ‘President Buhari should rescue Pastor Yakuru from his captors and save the nation from collapsing.’
According to him, if former US President, Donald Trump, could order the military to rescue one American abducted by the insurgents in Nigeria, nothing should stop the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd), from doing the same.
The organization also advised that all public secondary schools – boarding or otherwise – in the Northern part of Nigeria should be shut down henceforth until the security situation improves.
Ayokunle said, “Pastor Yakuru of EYN Church of the Brethren was reportedly abducted on December 24 2020 when the terrorists attacked Pemi Village in Borno State and killed no fewer than seven people.
“The Pastor who has been in the custody of the Abubakar Shekau-led faction of Boko Haram since December last year was on Wednesday, February 24 reportedly given a one-week ultimatum for their demands to be met by government or Pastor Yakuru will be killed.
“Although we are not aware of the demand, our appeal is to the President, the military and the Borno State government to ensure that Pastor Yakuru is not murdered like the district chairman of the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria and CAN Chairman of Michika Local Government in Adamawa State, Rev Lawan Andimi.
“The leadership of CAN believes that the freedom of Pastor Yakuru is a litmus test for the new service chiefs and the whole world is watching whether they will live up to the expectations of or not.
“If the then American President, Donald Trump could put his acts together from far away America and ordered his military to rescue one kidnapped American in Nigeria, then our President has no excuse or whatsoever not to act decisively and rescue Pastor Yakuru.
“Why should the government leave the citizens of this country at the mercy of insurgents, bandits and kidnappers? What then is the essence of having a government in place? Punch
