The president of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Bishop Francis Olubowale Oke, has condemned the recent killings of some Hausa-Fulani people in Uromi, Edo State, stressing that the lives of all Nigerians are sacred.
The bishop, also the founder of the Sword of the Spirit Ministries, said this on Thursday in Cornerstone City along Lagos-Ibadan Express Way, Ibadan, during a press conference where he spoke about the recent killings in the country and other national issues.
The cleric, while describing the Edo killings as a terrible extrajudicial and evil act, lamented that PFN is worried that other similar inhuman killings have been going on in the country, listing Benue, Ekiti, Ondo, Plateau, Taraba, and other states as examples of where such killings have been perpetrated.
He advised that interventions by the government towards addressing the Edo killings should be extended to other states where similar killings are going on to secure the lives of all Nigerians.
“The law enforcement agencies should live up to their bidding. Nigerians, irrespective of where they come from in the country, should be able to move freely.
“In this wise, PFN is joining all well-meaning Nigerians to condemn these killings, and the governors of Edo and Kano states should cooperate in fishing out those behind the killings and bring them to book to serve as a deterrent to others,” he said.
While suing for peace and order, and urging Nigerians to live in harmony with one another for peaceful coexistence, the bishop enjoined Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State and his Kano State counterpart, Governor Abba Yusuf to handle the sensitive matter amicably to foster peace and prevent reprisal attacks.
Bishop Oke cautioned those planning reprisal attacks or hoping to pick up arms to defend themselves or their community to desist from it ─ warning that it is a call for anarchy, which should not be encouraged ─ emphasising that sensitive matters like this are better properly handled by the police and other trained government security personnel.
He noted that the use of local vigilante groups in handling such security matters is not wise, in the sense that such groups are not properly trained or have constitutional backing to intervene in such serious matters.
In light of this, he called for the establishment of communal and state police in every state in the country, which he said would help to manage the security situation.
“Let state police be legalised so that we can have a supervised and organised anti-crime movement. Nigeria is so vast, with over 200 million people and 774 local government areas.
“It cannot be centrally policed. There should be communal and state police, but not vigilante security groups,” he said.
On how religion can contribute to security and peace in the country, Bishop Oke stressed that all Nigerians need to imbibe the fear of God in them, that all Nigerians need to know that the life of every human being is sacred and should not be toyed with.
“Let us see ourselves as brothers and sisters. Whether you are from the East, West, North or South, we are brothers.
“Let us not live in mutual suspensions and hatred. It will not do us any good. Let us be our brother’s keepers and live as one family,” he advised.
The PFN president seized the opportunity to congratulate President Bola Tinubu on his 73rd birthday, adding that he is doing well despite the economic, political, and security challenges he met upon resuming as president.
The bishop said while President Tinubu is not the messiah, he is a courageous and pragmatic man.
He thanked Tinubu for felicitating and identifying with PFN, adding that they would continue to pray for him.
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