Chairman of Kaduna State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev John Joseph Hayab, has described as disheartening, the attack on St Raphael’s Parish in Fadan Kamantan, Kafanchan diocese of Kaduna State where a seminarian, Bro Na’aman Ngofe Danladi, was burnt to death when the parish house was set ablaze.
Bandits had stormed the village late Thursday and attacked the church setting it ablaze with the aim of killing all the occupants but some of the priests escaped except Danladi who was serving as a seminarian.
He died in the fire and his remains were deposited at the mortuary.
According to a statement issued by the chairman confirming the attack, heir hearts were filled with pains with the news of the attack.
“It is no longer news that armed men invaded a Catholic church parish headquarters located at Fadan Kamantan community and the criminals targeted the parish priest’s residence, luckily the parish priest, Very Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Okolo who also doubles as the chancellor of the Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan and his assistant were able to escape from the house before the criminals set the entire rectory ablaze, burning to death a seminarian, Bro. Naam Ngofe Danladi who was just about completing his training into the Catholic priesthood.
“What is disheartening about this particular attack is the fact that the place of attack is just by the Kaduna – Kafanchan major highway with a military check point not far from the parish. The parish is located at the heart of Kamantan town and the attack was carried out at about 8:00pm. This causes us to wonder some more, where is the hope, how much more terrible could the situation get.
“We appreciate the willingness of the present administration to proffer practical, real and lasting solutions to the security challenges in Kaduna State as made visible by the ongoing recruitment process of over 7,000 men and women into the Kaduna State Vigilante Services (KADVIS),” he said.
He said in the light of sharing in the faith of the perceived good will of the present administration in Kaduna State, they invite Governor Uba Sani and all relevant stakeholders to immediately swing into action and ensure that those responsible are apprehended and made to face the law.
Rev. Hayab said, security is everyone’s business, but that it is disappointing that this kind of unholy activity could be recorded at the heart of Fadan Kamantan community and the criminals will operate unchallenged.
It is a slap on the security forces within that jurisdiction, it is a slap on the religious leaders, traditional and community leaders.
“The position of CAN Kaduna State chapter has always been that we as citizens must complement government in her primary responsibility of saving our lives and property by proactively building a community security system that prevents any form of invading force into our community, sadly we are still here. We reiterate again here, that leaders at all levels in southern Kaduna and Kaduna State must wake up to this call and be responsible for the protection of the communities where the live and lead.
“We cannot continue like this, no, it is unacceptable and we all must wake up to our responsibilities,” he said.
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