Osogbo Catholic Faithful Protest Incessant Killings Across Nigeria
Apparently disturbed by incessant bloodletting across the country, the Catholic Diocese of Osogbo, Osun state Tuesday trooped out enmasse to protest the killings.
The members of the church including priests and lay faithful armed themselves with rosaries, bibles and placards of various inscriptions and called on the Federal Government and other relevant bodies to stop the senseless killings in the country.
The Catholic mission faithful who dressed in their various church uniform had converged at Jaleyemi area and marched to the popular Olaiya junction before proceeding to the Osun State House of Assembly where a statement of concerns was presented to the Speaker, Hon. Najeem Salaam.
Some of the placards displayed by the demonstrators read: “Nigeria now flows with blood instead of the honey it is known for.” “Enough is Enough,” ” Stop Incessant Killings Now” “Embrace The Culture of Life, not that of killing ” “FG should bring Killer herdsmen to justice,” “Provide job for youths and not guns” “Human lives are sacred, protect it, ” among others.
The Bishop of Osogbo Diocese, Most Rev. John Oyejola while addressing journalists specifically condemned the murder of of two Catholic priests, Rev. Fr. Joseph Gor and Fr. Felix Tyolaha as well as seventeen other Catholic faithful by a gang of terrorists on Tuesday, April 24 at St. Ignatius Catholic Church, Ukor-Mbalom, Gwer-East Local Government Area of Benue state during morning Mass.
This peaceful and prayerful protest is in compliance with the directive of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN). It’s tagged “March For Life”. We are protesting the incessant killings taking place in all parts of our country Nigeria. We are calling on government to provide adequate security for everyone and take decisive steps in ending the current culture of death through a sincere respect for, protection and promotion of human life.”
He asked the federal government to find lasting solution the incessant killings in the country. The Bishop also called on the Federal Government to issue urgent directive to security agencies in the country to provide better security for all.
A statement of concerns presented by the church to Osun Assembly Speaker at the Assembly Complex where the demonstration terminated, asked the Federal Government to wake up to its constitutional responsibility of protecting human life and property.
The statement signed by the Vicar General and made available to correspondents reads partly, “this is to register the collective sorrow, displeasure and anguish of all Catholic faithful in Osogbo Diocese and the entire Osun state, about the incessant shedding of human blood in our beloved country, Nigeria. Human life, in n Nigeria of today, seems to have no value.
“This statement of concerns is presented by the Catholic Diocese of Osogbo to the Honourable Speaker, Osun State House of Assembly, for onward transmission to the Governor of Osun State and the President and Commander -in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“This peaceful March For Life is to tell the elected representatives of the people in Osun state, and demonstrate to international community, that enough is enough of bloodletting in Nigeria. The land can no longer absorb the blood of innocent Nigerians being shed daily. Be it that of Christians, Muslims, Northerners or Southerners, we assert unequivocally that a human person is sorry more than millions of cows and human life is more valuable than all the wealth in the world.
“Human life is sacred and no one has the right to take another person’s life under any pretense. It is an abomination to see human lives being wasted everyday without adequate proactive steps taken to prevent the occurrence or to significantly deter the killers.
“The suspected Fulani herdsmen, the faceless bandits that have suddenly registered their presence in the killing fields of Nigeria, the kidnappers, the ritualists and Boko Haram suicide bombers are not living on a separate planet different from ours. The killers are not ghosts or extra -terrestial beings. It baffles the Imagination of Nigerians why it is taking eternity to arrest them, stop their murderous plans and permanently put an end to their nefarious activities in our nation.
“It seems the country is gradually embracing the culture of death instead of the culture of life! It is a pity that those whose duty it is to prevent such a deviation are either compromising or not doing enough.
Various priests including Rev. Frs. Francis Idowu and Fr. Joseph Ochonogor who spoke with journalists also condemned the incessant killings and insecurity in the country saying that security officers who have been found wanting in the performance of their official duties, either by way of compromise or culpable negligence should be called to account for such professional misconduct .
The Catholic priests stressed that those who have demonstrated their incompetence in protecting human lives should be relieved of their duties before more serious havoc is caused by their negligence.
