Inter-Faith group proffers solution to banditry, kidnappings others in Nigeria

THE National Inter-Faith and Religious Organisations for Peace (NIFROP) in Nigeria has proffered the way forward to banditries, kidnappings and other crises in some parts of the country.

The interfaith group said fervent prayer and fasting remain the only panacea to the nagging menace in Nigeria.

The group also called on clergymen and women for concerted spiritual efforts towards rendering the evil of kidnapping, ethnic killings and banditry null and void whilst supporting security agencies to carry out their duties towards defeating them.

Addressing a press conference on Sunday, the group, through one of her leaders, Bishop Prince Jacob Madaki, also warned clergymen and messengers of God who covertly or overtly promote ethnic rife or propagate hate sermons to bolster the activities of killers in the name of politics or religion to desist as it would do the nation no good.

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Bishop Madaki also urged not to use the pulpit to promote ethnic rife or propagate hatred in the name of politics.

According to him “time has come and is precisely ripe for us to prove to God that His grace has not abandoned us. We do not intend to insult the sensibilities of the followers of any faith, but we have every reason now to believe God’s grace and His special blessings have departed from us. That’s why the land is in turmoil.”

He said “may we seize this opportunity to warn the clergy or messengers of God who covertly or overtly promote ethnic rife or propagate hate sermons to bolster the activities of killers in the name of politics or religion. These acts are not of God and failure to desist, means, they will be randomly exposed and disgraced by Almighty God in no distant time.”

“Finally, we appeal to all Nigerians to go down on their kneels in ceaseless fasting and prayers for God to rescue Nigeria from bloodsucking vermins. And it is a clarion call to every genuine religious leader irrespective of denomination or creed to pray for Nigeria and also, urge their congregation to do so.

“It is their responsibility to give the government a guide to lead the nation to peace and prosperity, not violence, killings and destructions or hate sermons on the pulpit, laced in outward piousness,” he noted.