The Christian Association of Nigeria in the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory on Sunday criticised the Borno State Government for compensating families of the late Boko Haram leader, Mohammed Yusuf, and his in-laws to the tune of N100m.

The body said it was improper for the state government to use tax payers’ money to  compensate the relations of an “outlaw” alleged to be responsible for the killing and destruction of lives and property in parts of the North.

The association, in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Sunday Oibe, expressed  disappointment that the state government gave out the sum of money as part of an out-of-court settlement in a pending suit in a Maiduguri court.

CAN therefore demanded the payment of N500m compensation for the families of each person killed by Boko Haram so far.

The statement reads, “We are dumbfounded that Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima, who swore to defend and protect the constitution of Nigeria, could use tax payers’ money to compensate an outlaw responsible for the killings and destruction of property of innocent Nigerians, particularly Christians.

“How can any responsible government   compensate somebody who has links with a group that is responsible for the bombings and murder of innocent people and threatening the corporate existence of the Nigerian nation?

“Is the Borno State Government saying that the lives of the in-laws of the  Boko Haram leader are more important than those of many innocent Nigerians being murdered freely by his blood thirsty  followers?”

CAN added, “We are so baffled by the action of the government.

“We, therefore, demand for N500m compensation for the families of each Nigerian killed by the Boko Haram Islamic sect from the Borno State Government in the interest of justice, equity and fair play.

“The decision of the state government to compensate the in-laws of the Boko Haram leader without equally compensating other Nigerians killed by members of the Islamic sect goes to show the insensitivity of the government to the losses suffered by other Nigerians.”

The body also tasked the political and religious leaders in the North to do something about the menace posed by the sect, which it said had been targeting and killing Christians, especially the Igbo.

-Punch

Posted by admin on Jan 15 2012. Filed under Boko Haram, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Latest Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry