The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has expressed concern over the silence of the Federal Government towards the threat on the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), by Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau.

Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Pantami was also threatened by Shekau in a video he released a few weeks ago.

According to CAN, although the Federal Government and Nigerians appeared to be on different pages on the security situation in Nigeria, such threats should not be taken lightly.

The Director (Legal and Public Affairs) in CAN, Kwamkur Samuel, stated this in an interview with THE PUNCH, before the expiration of his tenure on Friday.

But officials of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, declined to speak saying it was “a sensitive security matter.”

Kwamkur said,

“It is truly sad but not surprising that the Boko Haram Commander, Abubakar Shakau will release a video threatening to attack the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari and the Honorable Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Isa Ibrahim Pantami.

“I am not sure if the Federal Government finds the threat as serious since it’s their belief that Boko Haram has been technically defeated or degraded, more so that we are yet to know any drastic measures taken by the government against such threats.

“The National Assembly has also raised alarm of similar threat recently and other organizations and individual are faced with similar threats. Though the Federal Government and Nigerians seems to be on different pages on security situation in the country, we know that such threats should not be taken lightly.

“The silence of the government over such serious threats is serious danger to the nation and the citizens. If the President, the number one citizen and the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces is so threatened without any visible effort to immediately pursue and apprehend the culprit, then what is the hope of a common Nigerian?

“If this threat were to be in some nations that have sincere concern for insecurity, the next think you would have heard is the immediate arrest or destruction of the camp of the terrorists. But in Nigeria, the entire security challenge looks like a whole lot of game and political jokes.

This threat should draw the attention of Mr. President and his security chiefs to act quickly before the seat of government is tempered with! The lives of Mr. President, his Ministers and Service Chiefs and indeed all Nigerians are precious.

“Christians are still praying and hopeful that the government will acknowledge the magnitude of the security challenge in the nation and wake up from their slumber and take decisive measures before we are all affected. A stitch in time, they say, saves nine.”