Osinbajo, Onaiyekan decry killing of two priests, others

• Vice President stresses need to revamp Nigeria’s security system
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has stressed the need to rebuild and revamp security system of law enforcement in Nigeria to ensure that citizens and those who live and work in the country are safe.

Osinbajo, who spoke yesterday at Sesugh Maria Pilgrimage Centre, Ayati, during the burial of the two Catholic priests, Joseph Gor and Felix Tyolaha and 17 worshippers killed on April 24, 2018 by Fulani herdsmen militia, said the Federal Government would stop the senseless killing of innocent people.

He said: “The killing of the two priests and worshippers took place in what should be the safest place but those who killed them only ended up taking their flesh but not the spirit.

“What manner of man will wake up determined to kill innocent men, women and children. They deserve to be condemned and cursed but need our pity the more.”

He, however, said that for the two priests, worshippers and many others who have been killed in Benue, we cannot bring them back, but we can provide succour and comfort for those they have left behind, and bring justice for them by apprehending and punishing the assailants.

He said though the state was currently passing through turbulent times, the evil would be defeated and the people would triumph.

Cardinal John Onaiyekan, who delivered homily at the funeral mass, lamented that the security situation in Nigeria is fast deteriorating to the level where worshippers are no longer safe in their places of worship.

The cleric, who also expressed disgust with the level of insecurity in the country, said the killing of innocent people is being allowed to continue for too long and if the murderers were allowed to continue, the last resort would be self-help.

Governor Samuel Ortom expressed grief that the funeral was the third mass burial the state had organised in the last five months.

“What kind of nation are we? What direction do we want to move to? Are we going forward or backward?”