• Seeks enforcement of anti-terrorism law, counter-terrorism strategy to curb trend
• Methodist Church urges decisive action against insecurity
• Nigerian leaders’ greed, selfishness encourage insecurity, poverty, says bishop
• Warns food insecurity can lead to social unrest
The pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere, has decried the new upsurge in acts of terrorism in various parts of the country, especially North East, North Central and North West.
In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, the organisation also lamented kidnapping incidents in parts of the South West. The Afenifere spokesman, in proffering effective solutions to the seemingly hydra-headed scourge, said that some of the root causes of the problem should first be identified.
He listed the causative factors to include the wide expanse of land that are not being properly governed, porous borders, especially in the northern parts of the country, proliferation of weapons, complicity of state actors and influential individuals, ethno-religious bigotry, lack or paucity of institutional capacity by the state, elements of sabotage on the part of some unscrupulous politicians, desire of some ethnic groups for territorial hegemony and ineffective governance in certain areas, among others.
Ajayi said: ”To bring the menace of banditry, terrorism, kidnapping and so on under control, Afenifere suggests the immediate implementation of the National Counter-Terrorism Strategy (NACTEST) and prompt enforcement of Terrorism (Prevention) Act, 2011 as amended in 2013 and 2022, among others.”
SIMILARLY, the Methodist Church Nigeria, Diocese of Lagos North, has called on the federal government to take decisive action against insecurity and address the economic hardship facing the nation.
The church gave the charge in a communique issued at the end of its 14th yearly synod in Lagos. In the communiqué, made available to The Guardian yesterday, the church urged President Bola Tinubu to ensure the security of lives and property, as well as provide adequate provisions for the military to combat insurgents.
The Synod, under the leadership of the Bishop of Lagos North Diocese, Rt. Rev. Job Osuolale ‘Gboyega Ohu also expressed concern about the economic climate, high exchange rate, and the homogeneous cost of living.
The church, therefore, urged the federal government to foster a conducive economic and social environment to stop the huge brain drain affecting the country.
ALSO, leaders of the Methodist Church Nigeria, yesterday, said the level of greed and selfishness of Nigerian leaders encouraged insecurity and poverty in the country.
Bishop of Methodist Cathedral of Light, Agodi-Gate, Ibadan, Rt. Revd. Simeon Oluwole Onaleke, stated this while speaking with journalists at the post-synod conference held in Ibadan.
The cleric urged churches, religious institutions and non-governmental agencies to contribute to food security to alleviate hardship.The food security, the church noted, should not be left in the hands of the government alone, but all people should contribute.
