By Correspondent in Lokoja.
The Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria(CAN), Kogi State Chapter, Bishop John Ibenu, has called on Nigerians to cooperate with security agencies to curb to the barest minimum, the rising crime and criminality in the country.
The chairman made the call in Lokoja on Monday in which he condemned, in strong terms, the recent attacks on churches and worshipers by gunmen in the state.
Bishop Ibenu said:” I strongly condemn the attack on Churches; Winners Chapel at Osara and now ECWA Church at Okedayo, Kabba.This is a desecration of places of worship. We condemn it in its totality”.
The religious leader sympathised with and prayed for the bereaved family of the Kabba incident.
The Reporters,an online publication,noted that kogi state has been confronted with an upsurge of Kidnapping and banditry in recent time after a relative ease in crime statistics, compared to other states in the country.
About two months ago, a popular pharmacist as well as a first class traditional ruler were kidnapped in Okene and Okene-Ajaokuta road but set free after an ransom running to millions of naira was allegedly paid to the Kidnappers.
After few weeks of respite, gunmen invaded a place of worship in Osara, abducted three persons, set the free after some days, they stormed the Nigerian Minimum Correctional Centre and caused jailbreak during which hundreds of prisons fled and some rearrested.
The Kidnappers were also alleged to have demanded N15 million ransom for them to set free three poultry farmers they abducted also in Kabba recently.
The chairman of the association commended the effort of the State Government and called on security agencies to redouble efforts in the task of fighting crime and criminality in the state.
