The Interfaith Dialogue Forum for Peace (IDPF), has called on the Federal Government to take decisive actions to stem the spate of kidnappings, attack in Nigeria.
The Forum made this call during a press briefing in Abuja on Monday in a statement jointly signed by the Co-Chairmen Alh Kunle Ishaq (Muslim), and Bishop Sunday Onuoha (Christian).
Bishop Onuoha delivering the statement, lamented that the inability of government to secure citizens from the bedevilling catastrophes is an indication that Nigeria is fast becoming a failed state.
The Cleric recalled the gruesome murder of over 40 defenseless worshippers in Owo, Ondo State as well as the recent murder of a Muslim woman and her four children in Anambra State. He therefore called on government to go beyond the condemnation of these killings and take concrete steps to stem them.
According to the statement, “We are troubled that government security agencies that are trained and commissioned to secure the lives and property of ordinary citizens seem impotent to deal with the huge security challenges.
“The administration of criminal justice has not also helped by its slow attendance to criminal cases as well as the flippant dismissals of such cases without regard to the feelings of ordinary Nigerians. We call for decisive actions against anyone guilty of kidnapping, banditry or terrorism. We seek to be protected and safe as Nigerians.
“We regret that our commonwealth is used for the well-being of government officials, politicians, security agencies and workers with no positive impact on the security of lives and property of the citizenry.
“We are particularly troubled that these destructions now know no boundaries. Places of religious worship are no longer exempted. We recall the murder of over 40 defenseless worshippers in Owo, Ondo State, on Pentecost Sunday. In like manner, a Muslim woman and her four children were recently dastardly murdered in Anambra State. Based on experience, we wonder if anyone will ever be apprehended and brought to book for these heinous crimes. We call on government to do more than its usual condemnation of these killings and the issuance of condolence messages to injured victims and families of the dead, and take concrete steps to stem them.”
He further called for a total overhaul of the national security apparatus and the establishment of state police.
The President, Vision Africa charged religious organisations to beef up security in worship centres while encouraging them to imbibe tolerance peace and interfaith harmony among
These reveal how weak, nonchalant and seemingly compromising our security agencies have turned out to be. We call for a total overhauling of the national security apparatus and specifically the constitutional provision for state police.
“We call on religious organizations to step up security at their worship centers. They should be more vigilant about who comes into their congregations and premises at all times.
“We encourage tolerance, peace, patience and interfaith harmony and relations in Nigeria to make Nigerians live in peace for sustainable growth,” he added.
Also speaking, the Co-Chairman of the IDFP, Alh Kunle Ishaq said the IDFP will continue in its efforts to install peace in the country as it is the obligation it owes Nigeria as an interfaith religious organisation.
“The only thing we can do as an interfaith religious organisation is to continue to cry, shout, if need be, make propaganda that will wake up our leader so that they will do the needful and our country will become peaceful.
“That is the obligation we owe Nigeria as an interfaith religious organisation. We will not keep quiet,” he stated
