The Christian Association of Nigeria on Tuesday expressed concern over the reckless killing of Christians across the country, and concluded that the country was dancing a macabre dance of death, both for the nation and its citizens.

The association was reacting to the gruesome assassination of Ekiti State-born preacher with the Redeemed Christian Church of God and mother of seven children, Mrs. Eunice Elisha in Gbazango area of Kubwa in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja by alleged Islamic fundamentalists.

A statement by the General Secretary of CAN, Dr. Musa Asake, entitled: “Nigerian: A macabre dance of death”, obtained by WuzupNaija in Abuja, catalogued series of unprovoked killing of killings my Muslims across the country in recent times and called on Christians to defend themselves.

“Before the situation escalates into an unmanageable national crisis, CAN is calling on the authorities (both at the states and federal) to do everything possible to bring the perpetrators to justice if the confidence of Christians on this government must be maintained.

“The unprovoked attacks on Christians and the authority’s inaction is becoming unbearable and may not be tolerated anymore. Inasmuch as we will continue to call on Christians to remain tolerant and law abiding, it is becoming inevitable to also call on them to buckle up and be ready to defend themselves against these incessant unprovoked and mindless attacks”, he emphasised.

The statement reads: “The national leadership and the entire members of CAN) has received with rude shock and disbelief the report of yet another religious hatred motivated gruesome murder of a dedicated 42 year old Christian mother of seven children, Mrs. Eunice Elisha, who on Saturday July 9 2016, was brutally killed while doing Christian evangelism.

“The deceased was murdered in Kubwa area of Abuja, FCT, in the early hours of the day. Her neck was slashed and she was also stabbed in the stomach. About a month ago in Kano, Mrs. Bridget Agbaheme, a 74 year old Christian was murdered at Wambai market due to an altercation with a Muslim man who came to the front of her shop to perform ablution. Her offence was that she objected to the Islamic washing rite in front of her shop.

“Just last week, a clergyman of the Evangelical Church Winning All, Rev. Zakariya was killed by attackers suspected to be Fulani herdsmen in Obi LGA of Nasarawa state. They attacked him on his farm, cut off his arms and legs, then they chopped his head with a machete.

“Another fresh but sad news reaching us is that of the Fulani herdsmen militia that is back on rampage killing 81 people in multiple attacks in Logo and Ukum local government areas of Benue state in central Nigeria.”

Asake recalled that in recent times, there have been multiple cases of attacks by Fulani herdsmen on various Christian communities, all over the nation.

He cited the South East and the South South zones, where there have been gruesome attacks on members of Indigenous People of Biafra and Christian communities in the Niger Delta, “in addition to the relentless attacks of Boko Haram and Fulani herdsmen in the Middle Belt and Southern Borno.”

While commiserating with the families affected by “these mindless orgies of death and destruction” as well as with the entire Christian community in Nigeria, CAN prayed that God should  comfort and strengthen the families of all the Nigerians “affected in these unwarranted murders unleashed upon the nation by religious extremists.”

Asake said, “The recurring decimal of violence and murder of innocent Nigerian citizens on the basis of religious intolerance demands specific and relevant response from all concerned citizens in the country more so when the government in power seems to have adopted an attitude of lukewarm response to the evils being perpetrated in Nigeria in the name of religion.

“The discrimination against non-Muslims in Nigeria under the Buhari Administration is assuming a dangerous dimension that should not be left to the vagaries of time and circumstance to resolve.

“You will agree with me that with these happenings and the lukewarm attitude by the authorities concern toward putting an end to it, Nigeria is dancing a macabre dance of death, both for the nation and for its citizens. It is time to stop the beat and let common sense guide the nation out of the present quagmire. A stitch in time saves nine.”