Baptist clerics task President Buhari on security

President of Lagos East Baptist Conference (LEBC), Dr. Emmanuel Awotunde, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to intensify efforts in stemming insecurity in the country.

He spoke yesterday in Lagos at a press briefing to herald the annual ‘Kingdom Life Assembly’ of the church starting on Saturday, August 24 at the First Baptist Church, Agbowa, Ikorodu with the theme ‘Following Jesus as a Steward’.

Awotunde, who lamented the recent kidnap of two Baptist clerics, appealed to the Federal Government to step up effort to free their members from the kidnappers.

He suggested meetings between government and traditional rulers, who understand the people in their domain and in a better position to control movement of strangers.

Asserting that the Yoruba were living in peace over the years with herders until the latter started carrying guns, he urged government to probe the rationale behind the new trend.

He said: “We want the government to engage the community leaders. In the process, they may obtain valued information. If the government had taken this measure, I assure you, they would have discovered how to overcome these bandits, kidnappers and Boko Haram. I believe that if we unite and cooperate with the government, we can secure this nation from the hands of these unpatriotic elements in our land.”

Chairman of LEBC, Dr. Julius Omomola, blamed the lingering insecurity situation in the land on government. He said government failed to identify the basis of insecurity by not applying the different suggestions from well-meaning Nigerians.

“If government will not identify the real problem, it becomes difficult for them to overcome insecurity. Have our leaders investigated why these Fulani herdsmen suddenly began to carry arms. Some have suggested community policing and some other measures, but our leaders are not willing to listen to other opinions, even when they have realised that their strategy seems not to be working.”