•••URGES AGENCIES TO ADDRESS INSECURITY BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE
The Christian Association of Nigeria has expressed outrage over the massacre of innocent worshippers at a Catholic Church at Owo, Ondo State on Sunday.
CAN said in a statement by the Special Assistant to the President of CAN, Pastor Adebayo Oladeji, that there is no explanation for the callous acts of mass murder perpetrated by the bloodthirsty killers.
CAN condemned the massacre of innocent worshippers describing it as outrageous, unacceptable and satanic.
The Christian body called on the president to stop recycling the criminals and terrorists in the guise of carrying out a programme of de radicalization.
The body reiterated its call on the President to ensure total rejigging of the the security architecture of the country.
“The leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has condemned the unprovoked attacks and killing of several innocent worshippers at the St Francis Catholic Church, Owa-luwa Street, Owo and called on the security agencies to apprehend the perpetrators of the dastardly criminality.
“This is sad, wrong, condemnable, outrageous, unacceptable and satanic. There is no explanation for this unprovoked attack and assault on a place of worship. This is raw persecution. These people are possessed, demonic and are not working for the good of the country.
“May God descend heavily on them and fight the mindless agents of Satan from their roots in Jesus’ name.
We are once again reiterating our quest for a total overhauling of the security architecture and are asking President Muhammadu Buhari to stop the recycling of those criminals and terrorists in the name of de-radicalising programme.
“If the programme is not counterproductive, how come the criminalities are always on the increase and nowhere is safe again.” The statement read in part.
CAN noted that the increasing spate of insecurity had assumed an embarrassing and arming proportion addicting that criminals now operate with impunity while Government attention had shifted to 2023 election.
CAN urged the security operatives to effectively address the growing slaughter of the innocent before it is too late.
The Christian body called on the State Governors to meet with the President to find a lasting solution to the problem.
The body challenged the Government to come up with other solutions if it feels State police is unacceptable.
“This menace of insecurity has gotten out of hands and is embarrassingly sore. Criminals are operating with impunity all over the country and unfortunately our government appears to be so busy with the 2023 general election that it has no time for the unending killings in the country.
“What legacy is the government and those who are the managers of our security architecture leaving behind for the unborn generation? We are praying for the government and the security agencies to get it right before it will be too late.
“If the Federal government is not interested in the State Police, what efforts are being put in place to arrest this unpleasant situation? We call on the State Governors to meet with the President to find the lasting solution to these killings. Issuing mere press statements of condemnations and what looks like empty threat is apparently not a way out of it.
“CAN commiserates with all the bereaved, the Olowo of Owo, Oba Gbadegesin Ogunoye, the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN) and the Ondo State Government.”