By: Valentine Adese (JP),
The national body of the Catholic Laity has categorically stated that, the people killed by alleged Bandits at St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, in Odon State, were killed because they are Christians.
They body led by its National President, Hon. Sir, Henry Yunkwap (KSJI), in a press briefing at the NUJ press center Jos today, also claimed that, the parishioners were also killed because, they were in Church on Sunday worshiping God.
Flanked by other national, state and branch executives of Laity, Hon. Sir, Henry Yunkwap (KSJI) said, “As a Christian group and direct mourners of this sad incident, we do not want to only condemn this barbaric act carried out by these animals in human form, but use this medium to let the government know that we have taken enough of these killings of our people and we now find it very difficult to chew what they have forcefully put in our mouth. The only option left is to throw it out.
“For any government who cannot provide security for her people, it is indirectly telling them to defend themselves by whatever means they can.
“We are indeed tired of words; we want action and the urgent arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators of this evil act”.
READ THE FULL PRESS TEXT BELOW:-
FROM THE OFFICE OF THE NATIONAL PRESIDENT OF CATHOLIC LAITY COUNCIL OF NIGERIA
PRESS STATEMENT
ONDO KILLINGS
MY DEAR COULLEAGUES
GENTLEMEN OF THE PRESS
It is very important that I address you this moment considering, the happenings in our country as regards insecurity.
We are all aware that, yesterday, around this time, more than 50 parishioners of St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, in Odon State, were killed by gunmen suspected to be Bandits. Am addressing you today as the President of all Catholic Laity, under which the over 50 victims belong.
Am heartbroken and I find it very difficult to address my people at this moment, knowing fully well that, we are yet to recover from the recent murder of our daughter and friend, the late Debora Samuel by some heartless religious extremists in Sokoto State.
While we are making frantic efforts to console our people and also plead with our youths not to take laws into their hands, but to abide by the Bible’s injunctions, which admonished us, as Christians, to allow God take control and vengeance in all circumstances, over 50 innocent worshipers on Sunday, June 5th 2022, at St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo in Ondo State were gruesomely murdered by people we’ve deliberately refused to identify them by their names, but prefer to use “Unknown Gunmen” when referring to them. This is uncalled for! This is unacceptable!
I want to categorically state here again that as believers in Christ Jesus, we are called to be peace loving people and to preach it with both words and actions, but that does not mean we shouldn’t be sensitive to happenings around us and take action when necessary.
To our leaders and to all those who feel they have the monopoly of violence to know that every life is sacred and nobody has the right to take it in whatever way, be it under the guise of religion, ethnic or political differences.
The crimes committed by those killed were just two. One, they were Christians and secondly, because they were in the Church on Sunday worshiping God.
As a Christian group and direct mourners of this sad incident, we do not want to only condemn this barbaric act carried out by these animals in human form, but use this medium to let the government know that we have taken enough of this killing of our people and we now find it very difficult to chew what they have forcefully put in our mouth. The only option left is to throw it out.
For any government who cannot provide security for her people, it is indirectly telling them to defend themselves by whatever means they can. We are indeed tired of words, we want action and the urgent arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators of this evil act.
Our leaders must rise again just condemning this act by using the over used words like, “bring the perpetrator to book”. They must see the life of every Nigerian as very important not minding where he or she comes from.
What the victims want from the government now for their souls to rest in peace is the assurance that their killers will be arrested and dealt with according to Law of the land.
I hereby on behalf of the entire Catholic Laity in Nigeria sympathize with the Bishop, Priests and the Laity of Ondo Diocese over this act.
Our hearts are with you!
We pray for the departed souls and quick recovery to the injured.
Signed:
Hon. Sir, Henry Yunkwap (KSJI)
National President
Catholic Laity Council of Nigeria
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