It called the affair a “national disgrace” and warned that organized crime would grow dangerously into the South-West.
The Christian organization was incensed that heavily armed assailants had assaulted many schools, terrorized neighborhoods, murdered innocent people, and kidnapped dozens of students and instructors.
The invasion of schools by armed criminals in broad daylight, according to a statement released on Monday and signed by CAN President Archbishop Daniel Okoh, was indicative of a terrifying breakdown in national security.
It is “intolerable, disgraceful, and utterly unacceptable that Nigerian children can no longer sit safely in classrooms without the fear of being kidnapped by armed gangs,” the group continued.
“The invasion of schools by armed criminals in broad daylight, the murder of innocent citizens, and the forceful abduction of defenseless children represent a horrifying collapse of security and a direct assault on the conscience of our nation,” the statement continued.
“This isn’t just another security incident. According to the statement, “it is a national disgrace and a terrifying reminder that organized criminal violence is spreading into parts of the country once considered relatively secure.”
Along with other victims ensnared in the violence, CAN also lamented the reported death of an assistant headmaster who allegedly attempted to shield the kids during the assault.
The organization declared, “Those responsible must be identified, apprehended, and prosecuted without hesitation, and their sacrifice must never be forgotten.”
The group also bemoaned what it called “growing public frustration over repeated attacks and insecurity in parts of the country.”
“Condolences without repercussions and promises without security have worn Nigerians out.” Terror is becoming more commonplace throughout the nation as a result of the ongoing inability to effectively destroy kidnapping networks and armed criminal organizations, according to CAN.
Once centered in areas of northern Nigeria, the group said that instability was now “spreading dangerously into the South-West and other regions, threatening national stability, public confidence, and the safety of future generations.”
In order to save the kidnapped victims and prosecute the offenders, CAN urged the federal government, security services, and the Oyo State government to act swiftly and cooperatively.
“To secure the unconditional release of the abducted victims and bring the perpetrators and their collaborators to justice, every available security and intelligence resource must be deployed,” the statement continued.
The association urged authorities to bolster security around rural villages, woodland corridors, and suspected criminal hideouts, emphasizing that schools and children must not be turned over to criminal gangs.
Silence turns into complicity and delay turns into danger when kids are being hunted in classrooms. Before more innocent lives are lost, Nigeria must take quick action to dismantle these criminal networks, CAN said.
Along with praying for the safe return of all kidnapped victims, the group also showed support for the impacted families, churches, and Oriire Local Government Area people.
