ICC Note: Nigerian Christian leaders and human rights activists are demanding justice for the recent attack on Francis Emmanuel. Surprisingly, several government officials have denied any knowledge of the attack on the 41-year-old Christian. Christian leaders are concerned that the apathy of the government may both prevent the attackers from being convicted and also encourage other radical Muslims to continue acts of terrorism. The recent brutal attacks on both Francis Emmanuel and Bridget Agbahime underscore the growing religious intolerance in Nigeria.
6/10/2016 Nigeria (Punch) – Some eminent Nigerians and groups on Thursday condemned the attack on a carpenter, Francis Emmanuel, by some Muslim youths in the Kakuri area of Kaduna on Wednesday for eating during Ramadan.
The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Rev. Matthew Kukah; the Christian Association of Nigeria and a human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, said the attack on Emmanuel was the height of growing intolerance in the land.
They demanded that the perpetrators of the dastardly act be apprehended and severely punished to serve as a deterrent to others.
Kukah, who is the Founder of the Kukah Centre for Faith, Leadership and Public Policy, said the perpetrators should be tried and punished in line with the laws of the country.
The cleric spoke with journalists on Thursday evening ahead of his forthcoming event entitled ‘Fixing Nigeria Initiative’.
He also decried the high level of extremism in the country occasioned by the brutal killing of 74-year-old Mrs Bridget Agbahime in Kano, calling on the government to expedite action in bringing the criminals to book.
Kukah added, “The ugly things we have seen in the last one week are ungodly and totally unacceptable. Somebody goes out to buy food and you attack him and say, ‘why are you not fasting?’ It is totally unacceptable. The culprits must be arrested, tried and punished. There is no other way you can end this impunity.”
…
