How Relocation Of Boko Haram Prisoners Turned Anambra Residents To Prayer Warriors As CAN Protest

CAN Protesting earlier today 

Churches in Anambra State have announced programme for prayer and fasting to make the Federal Government change its mind on the relocation of the Boko Haram prisoners to Ekwulobia Prisons.

At St. Patrick Cathedral Parish Awka, on Sunday, July 5, 2015, the  Administrator, Rev. Father Patrick Chukwuma, said that President Buhari should be prevailed on to take back the high profile prisoners.



Chukwuma pointed out that there were many prisons in the Northern part of the country and wondered why the prisoners were not accommodate in such prisons.

While urging worshippers to resort to prayers, he said that the greatest fear was possible attacks on Ekwulobia Prison by colleagues of the Boko Haram prisoners, who may attempt to orchestrate jail break to free their colleagues and infiltration of Anambra State by Boko Haram elements and consequent bombing.

Chukwuma said: “Is this the change Buhari promised us? APC, is this the change you people are advocating? Is this what we will get as our share of the present Federal Government?”

Meanwhile, Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, at the weekend met with a cross-section of community leaders of Anambra State and assured that proper security would be provided at Ekwulobia and environ as he sorts the matter out with the Presidency.

Obiano met with traditional rulers and Presidents-General from the 177 communities in Anambra State and urged them to calm their subjects so that they do not panic unnecessarily.

He also urged them to prevail on the citizens of the state to stop protests and demonstration against the Prison authority’s decision to bring convicted insurgents to Ekwulobia Prison because doing so will affect the economy of the state.

Obiano said that he got wind of the transfer of the convicts on Wednesday the previous week not knowing that arrangements had already been concluded on the matter by the time he rushed to Abuja to sort the matter out with the Presidency.

He promised to continue to press for the relocation of the prisoners as they will not only create a security problem to the state but add to pressure of the prison that now houses twice its accommodation capacity.

He also lamented that Ekwulobia Prison was not designed for high profile prisoners of Boko Haram status which is the reason for his fear for their presence.

Angry reactions, however, trailed the governor’s address as both the traditional rulers and Presidents-General who spoke about the transfer of the prisoners urged Obiano to ensure that the prisoners were re-transferred to other prisons that have facility to take them.

They accused the Federal Government of ulterior motive in bringing the prisoners to Ekwulobia knowing that the prison has no facility to host them.

They saw the plan as a punishment for Anambra people for not voting for President Muhammadu Buhari during the presidential election.

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Anambra State Chapter, on Monday protested the relocation of Boko Haram inmates to Ekwulobia prisons in the state by the Federal Government.

They said that situation has created panic in the state, while the residents have started relocating to other communities for safety.

The protesting CAN members included the Archbishop of the Diocese on the Niger and Dean Anglican Communion, Most Rev Christian Efobi, Catholic Bishop of Awka, Most Rev Paulinus Ezeokafor, Anglican Bishop of Awka, Most Rev. Alex Ibezim, Bishop of the Niger West, Most Rev Johnson Ekwe and Bishop Samuel Ezeofor of Ogbaru Diocese, among others.

Also, the youth, Christian women organization under the aegis of (WOWICAN) carried placards with different inscriptions denouncing the relocation of Boko – Haram inmates to the state.

Some of the placards read, “We have not slept since the ugly situation in Ekwulobia,” “Anambra CAN say no to Boko-Haram,” and “WOWICAN rejects Boko-Haram,” among others.

Source: The Nation