The Network of African Christian Journalists (NACJOURN) has asked the federal government to own up to its lack of capacity to provide security and allow Nigerians to provide for their own security.
NACJOURN is an association of African Christians in the media.
The Network in a press statement signed by its President, Dr. Bola Adewara and the Secretary, Mr Dayo Emmanuel, expressed great shock at the killings in a Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State on Sunday, June 5.
It then noted that “if this government is unfit and unable to protect Nigerians, as demonstrated in the killings in Owo and several other places, they should give everyone the power to provide security for themselves. After all, individual Nigerians now provide electricity, water, health, road, etc for themselves. Security should not be any different.”
The body stated that it is an irony that people are being killed on a daily basis in a country that is being led by a retired general.
It states further, “Church leaders should start demanding that the government allow all and sundry to procure arms and defend themselves in the face of this crass docility and the apparent failure of this government.
‘This attack, coming on Pentecost day, the day the universal Church commemorates its birth, and the attack happening in the hometown of a sitting governor who is the chief protagonist of Amotekun, the South-West security unit shows that the attackers and their sponsors know what they are doing.”
The body noted that the attack is also coming some few days after the Prelate of the Methodist Church in Nigeria was abducted.
While noting that nothing was being done to track the people behind the incessant assault on the Church of Christ, the body states, “We insist that if this government does not wake from its slumber, let them give the power to individuals to protect themselves.”
The network also commiserated with the Christian community in Owo, and the Ondo State government on the needless loss of lives.
It called on well-meaning Nigerians to keep talking against terror. “The best condition for evil to thrive is for good people to keep quiet. It is Owo today. It can be anywhere tomorrow.”
The network also suggested that government at all levels should collaborate with the local people in intelligence gathering. “These killers are not spirits. The security operatives should be mobilised and encouraged to flush out evil-doers in the country.”