The Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Most Rev. Alfred Martins, has called for more urgent measures to curb the rate of insecurity across the country.
Martins said the recent terrorist attacks in parts of the country and the mass killing of innocent Nigerians have underlined the need for the federal government and the security agencies to, as a matter of urgency, identify and deal decisively with the terrorists and their sponsors.
The cleric lamented the Monday attack on the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi State, where 25 schoolgirls were abducted and a similar attack on St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State on Friday, where students were also kidnapped.
These incidents, he said, are regrettably reminiscent of the abduction of the Chibok girls in April 2014.
Archbishop Martins also condemned the kidnapping of a Catholic priest, Father Bobbo Paschal, from St. Stephen Catholic Church in Kushe Gudgu, Kaduna State. During this raid, Gideon Markus, the brother of another local priest, was killed as he tried to intervene.
These attacks, Martins noted, demonstrate the brazen audacity of those who seek to terrorise the nation.
Martins said: “It is a matter of great concern that there has been a spike in the cases of terrorist attacks across the country in recent times, especially since the threat made by President Donald Trump. It seems there are some elements who are making deliberate efforts to throw this nation into chaos.
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“For instance, how does one describe the manner in which the school girls were kidnapped, the brutal murder of a staff member, the school’s Vice Principal and Chief Security Officer, Hassan Yakubu Makuku, who was shot when assailants broke into his residence on the school premises?
“It is sad that these children, aged approximately 12 to 17, were seized under the cover of darkness by gunmen who scaled the school fence, exchanged gunfire with police, and ultimately took these innocent daughters away into the forests. We are heartened that one student has escaped and returned home, but we remain deeply troubled about the safety and well-being of the 24 who remain in captivity.”
According to him, the recent killing of Muhammad Uba, a General in the army, by the terrorists and the attack on a church in Eruku, Kwara State, have further shown that “more needs to be done to secure the lives and properties of our citizens wherever they may be living”.
“If the terrorists can kill a whole serving army general in such a brazen manner, I wonder how secure the average citizens of this country are? It truly shows that there are reasons for everyone to be concerned about their security,” the cleric stated.
Archbishop Martins warned that time was ticking fast and government at all levels along with the security agencies need to enforce their constitutional mandate of protecting the lives and properties of the citizens, as they needed to act fast to regain the confidence and trust of all citizens.
He therefore urged the President Bola Tinubu-led administration to, as a matter of constitutional duty, bring home all those who were abducted by terrorists.
Martins equally urged the political class to unite and support the security agencies in their efforts to defeat the terrorists, warning that no stone should be left unturned to bring the culprits and their sponsors to justice.
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