Case Of Azurfa Lois, Must Not Become Another Leah Sharibu – HURIWA Warns Buhari
Category: Nigeria News
Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has issued a 24-hour
ultimatum to the Federal Government to quickly secure the release of Azurfa
Lois John, a 21-year-old Christian, who was one of the victims of the
Kaduna-Abuja train attack.
A statement issued by HURIWA’s National
Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, on Saturday, noted that failure to
secure the release of the victim, who has been in captivity for about five
months, will attract a severe legal tussle.
It said the group
would not hesitate to sue the Federal Government and report the administration
of President
Muhammadu Buhari
to the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom.
The group warned that the case of Lois must not become another
Leah Sharibu who has been in captivity since February 19, 2018 when Islamic
State West Africa Province, ISWAP, fighters attacked the Government Girls
Science and Technical School in Dapchi, Yobe State.
HURIWA’s
warning followed a report by Tukur Mamu, media consultant to controversial
Islamic cleric, Ahmad Gumi, that a top bandit commander is planning to marry
Lois, who is said to be “the youngest victim of the March 28 train attack”.
Mamu, who is negotiating between the terrorists and families of
victims, also said the terrorists threatened to do to Lois the same thing they
had done to Leah if her parents and the government fail to pay a N100 million
ransom to secure her release on time.
According to the rights group, “The report by Tukur Mamu, so-called media
consultant to controversial Islamic cleric, Ahmad Gumi, is unsavory and should
not be taken lightly.
“HURIWA gives the Federal Government of
Nigeria 24 hours to secure the release of 21-year-old Azurfa Lois John, said
to be the only young Christian victim and lady among the hostages. The
government must take both non-kinetic and kinetic actions (as attested to by
presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu) to secure her prompt release.
“The
threat by ISWAP fighters to marry off Lois to one of their top commanders is a
testament to longstanding belief that terrorists are advancing the agenda of
Islam and are untouchable but tolerated by the present Fulani government hence
their multiplication and continued despoliation.
“The regime of
President
Muhammadu Buhari
failed Leah Sharibu. It must not fail Azurfa Lois John. Nigerians won’t take
another slap on the Christian community. The Christian Association of Nigeria
and persons of noble conscience must exert pressure on Federal Government to
secure the release of Lois as soon as possible.
“HURIWA is by this
statement putting the United States Commission on International Religious
Freedom on notice of the religious violations going on under President Buhari
and the allegedly conspiratorial silence of the northern elite”.
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