The Companion- an association of Muslim men in business and in professions, has charged the present administration to declare forthwith a state of emergency in the security sector to arrest the spate of killings in the country.
The Islamic Organisation made the call in a release signed by its Ameer Engr. Kamil Olalekan and the General Secretary Mallam Ibrahim Abduquadri in the wake of gruesome murder of no fewer than thirty worshippers at St. Francis Catholic Church,Owo in Ondo State on Sunday, June 5.
The statement condemned the attack by the blood-thirsty bandits, describing it as barbaric, heinous and an affront of the highest magnitude on the country’s security architecture and indeed,the present administration.
It contended that the recent massacre is one too many and wondered how the ugly trend has continued unabated in Nigeria while the authorities with the humongous vote on security sector on annual basis, still appear helpless.
The Companion calls for a drastic change in the approach of security organisations to fighting general insecurity,which has continually taken tolls on the economy of the nation and the well-being of the citizenry.
“That the citizenry continually lives in palpable fear under the yoke of incessant attacks demands a change in approach to fighting insecurity”,the group stated.
The Islamic group warns of the consequences of allowing the security situation to degenerate further, as it could lead to the citizenry resorting to self-help and extrajudicial killings among other barbaric acts.
The Companion commiserates with the families of the victims, the Catholic Church in Nigeria, the people of Owo and Ondo State government on the unfortunate and callous killings in the peaceful town.
” Our hearts go with the families of the victims, the church, the people of Owo and Ondo State government at this trying period,” the group said.
The Islamic group advocates the strengthening of the Western Nigeria Security Network known as Amotekun, to ward off the incursion of bandits into the South West geopolitical zone, which hitherto had enjoyed relative peace and tranquility among other zones in the country.
The group urges Nigerians to stop profiling of any tribe as criminals as crime and criminality bears no colour, race or affiliation to any religion/belief.
It further noted that Owo church killers have desecrated the holy place of worship with blood of innocent worshippers and therefore, believe strongly that Allah will surely expose them all in no time to face the consequences of their heinous actions.
