Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) calls on buhari to intervene in the conflict between Shiites and Nigeria army

The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, has
sued for peace following the altercation between
the Nigerian Army and Muslim faithful of the
Shia Islamic movement, which led to loss of
lives of an as yet unknown number of Shiites.
The association made this known in a statement
signed by The General Secretary of CAN, Dr.
Musa Asake. Read statement below:
The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, has
observed, with much sadness, the altercation
between the Nigerian Army and Muslim faithful
of the Shia Islamic movement, which led to loss
of lives of an as yet unknown number of Shiites.
Our faith is bed rocked on love. We do not only
love ourselves, but we also love our neighbors
and Shiite Muslims are our neighbors.
While we will not want to preempt the
government and the Nigerian Army, we do
however sue for peace.
We call on President Muhammadu Buhari, as the
Commander-in-Chief, to intervene and ensure
that there is no escalation of the violence.
We wish to draw his attention to the fact that
similar circumstances as this led to the
escalation of belligerence from the Jamā'at Ahl
as-Sunnah lid-Da'wah wa'l-Jihād, also known as
Boko Haram.
More specifically, we urge that no harm must be
done to the person of the spiritual leader of the
Shia Islamic movement in Nigeria, Sheikh
Ibrahim El-Zakzakky.
To ensure that another insurgency is not
sparked off, we call on the Federal Government
to commission a Panel of Inquiry to establish
what happened in order to prevent a
reoccurrence.
CAN would also like to condemn reports by the
Iranian Network, Press TV, which in its interview
with one Zaid Abdullah Husseini, falsely alleged
that the Christian Association of Nigeria
colluded with Boko Haram and the Nigerian
Army to perpetrate the killings of Shia Muslims.
This is a most unfortunate accusation especially
given the fact that CAN has consistently
sympathized with the Shias over previous
clashes with the authorities.
We urge the Iranian backed Press TV to be
mindful of its reportage in order not to stoke
religious tensions in Nigeria. We work on the
assumption that that is not their intention.
Finally, CAN calls on all lovers of God, be they
Christian or Muslims, whether Sunni or Shia, to
keep the peace and await judicious action from
constituted authority.
May God bless Nigeria.