Catholic Communicators in Nigeria under the auspices of SIGNIS have condemned in very strong terms the incessant killings of Priests and other innocent Nigerians by bandits, kidnappers, and terrorists.
They said the increased attacks on Catholic Churches in recent times which have led to the loss of several lives, including that of priests could spiral into an orgy of violence that may have grave consequences on the peace and unity of the country.
The Catholic Communicators expressed even more concern over the seeming silence of the Buhari administration and the Federal Government in the face of these attacks now.
This seeming silence, they argued does not in any way reassure Nigerians that the government is on top of the situation.
In a release signed by the President of the Association, Very Rev. Fr. Patrick Alumuku, and the General Secretary, Mr. Tony Agbugba, the group noted that the time has come for all Nigerians irrespective of their religious inclination to be more security conscious.
Reacting to the recent killings of two Catholic priests, Rev Frs. Christopher Odia of Auchi Dioceses and Bitrus Borigo of Kaduna Archdiocese, including the mauling of over 40 worshippers at Owo, Ondo State, respectively, the group wondered why the bandits have suddenly picked interest in harassing, and killing harmless clergy and innocent worshippers who pose no danger or obstacle to anyone, rather than their desire to draw nearer to their creator.
Meanwhile, the Edo State Acting Governor, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu, has condemned the killing of a Catholic Priest, Rev. Fr. Christopher Odia, in Ikabigbo, Etsako West Local Government Area of the State.
Shaibu, who led other government functionaries and heads of security agencies in the state, on Monday, to Ikabigbo, called for calm among residents in the community.
The acting governor also commiserated with the Head of Ikabigbo Community, Aleghe Braimah; family of a member of the Edo Vigilante Network who lost his life in an attempt to rescue the priest, Yusuf Nurudeen, and the Ogieneni of Uzairue, Kadiri Omogbai.
Shaibu said he was in the area to commiserate with the Uzairue people and get first-hand knowledge of the incident, noting, “The unfortunate attack resulted in the killing of Rev. Fr. Christopher Odia at St. Michael Catholic Church, Ikabigbo in Etsako West Local Government Area.
“I received briefs from eyewitnesses in the community and assured the troubled community that the assailants will be brought to book and made to pay for their crimes.”
He continued: “We are pained by the loss of both the reverend father and the member of the vigilante group, who was killed but I am particularly happy with our youth and the vigilante group and the hunters. We also commend the police and the military for their prompt action. We’re very saddened that we lost our loved ones.
“I insisted that we must come to see what has happened for ourselves. We have gotten some information already. Last night, I insisted that the military should remain in the bush to comb the forest. As we speak, they’re still there because we want to make sure that none of the culprits escapes.”
“We will also look at what has happened here critically because Edo State has been relatively peaceful. We will not allow these miscreants to come into our state and disrupt the peace that we’re already enjoying. Edo will be too hot for them. We will assess what has happened to know how to correct them,” Shaibu noted.
The Edo State Commissioner of Police, Abutu Yaro, assured the community members and relatives of the casualties that the security outfits will not rest until the criminals are brought to book.
He implored the community to partner with the Police and charged anyone taking actions to work within the ambits of the law to ensure that they do not run afoul of the law.
They particularly implored all Churches and Mosques to put in place stringent security measures that would enable them to defend the clergy, the worshippers, and the facilities henceforth.
