Raging killings beyond religion, says Okorocha

Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State has said the raging killings in parts of the country were beyond religious connotation.

He insisted that in some cases, both Christians and Muslims were victims, arguing that based on this, it would be out of place for anyone to conclude that they has religious tilt.

Okorocha spoke at the weekend during the 10th Episcopal anniversary of the Catholic Bishop of Orlu Diocese, Augustine Ukwuoma, at Holy Trinity Cathedral, Orlu.

He said as the country was passing through “very difficult times”, religious leaders and other Nigerians, irrespective of ethnic and religious backgrounds, should pray fervently for the return of normalcy.

The governor regretted that some disgruntled persons had lost their “sense of value for lives, leading to the rate of bloodletting.”

He noted that the situation requires God’s intervention.

His words: “Initially, I thought that what was going on in some parts of the country was a religious war. But the Plateau and Zamfara killings have shown that what we have in our hands is beyond religious colouration.

“In these killings, Muslims were killing Muslims and Christians killing Christians. They kill innocent citizens both young and old. And for us Christians, this is the time to pray for peace and love for one another.”