Jutha Gupah, Maiduguri
The President of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Samson Ayokunle has declared that government has allowed Boko Haram insurgency, kidnappings and armed banditry in the country for economic returns. Ayokunle made the declaration on Monday, while briefing journalists on his two-day visit to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in camps at Government House, Maiduguri. He said if the people in power and are supervising the various communities, insurgency, kidnappings and armed banditry would have been nipped in the bud. His words: “To me and to some extent; government allowed them. If the people in power; people supervise communities. If they are not in support in any way; if they are not benefitting from these criminal activities; they could have nipped them in the bud.” Continuing, he asked; “How can I am the leader of the community and unwanted elements are rising up; I will quickly nip it in the bud. “I’m advocating that the leader of the communities and agents of government be sincere enough and patriotic beyond economic returns to expose the unscrupulous elements within communities.” According to him, this will enable the people to live their lives fulfil their dreams; because they don’t have two lives to live. On whether Boko Haram has been defeated for the IDPs return to their ancestral homes in the northeast. “We don’t need to deceive ourselves on the on-going insurgency in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states. “It is not Uhuru yet. The battle is not won yet, but we know the end is in sight if we don’t give up,” he said. He said that as long as people still live in IDPs camps, it means that we have not reached the end of matter. The IDPs, according to him, ought to go back to their ancestral homes, where they were attacked and displaced by the insurgents. He said that the displaced persons are to be encouraged, because what has happened to them is not the end of world. “God is greater than their problems. More than enough to turn every challenge to songs of praise,” he said.
