The Catholic Archdiocese of Ibadan on Tuesday appealed to the Federal Government to live up to its responsibility of providing security and safety for every Nigerian.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that members of the archdiocese joined catholic nationwide and took to the streets of Ibadan to protest the continued killings in parts of the country.
They are also protesting the killing of the two priests of the Catholic Diocese of Makurdi, Rev. Fathers Joseph Gor and Felix Tyolaha by suspected herdsmen on April 24.
The walk, which started from Saints Peter and Paul Major Seminary, Bodija, took the protesters to the Oyo Governor’s Office, Agodi.
The protesters, singing, praying and carrying placards bearing different inscriptions such as “All Nigerians Should be Safe in their country’’; “Catholics say Enough of Innocent Killings’’ and “Nigeria Arise for Justice’’.
Others are: “Save our Nation”; “Stop the Shedding of Innocent Blood’’; “Every killing is a loss of something precious and irreplaceable’’; and “Nigerians Deserve a Better Governance’’.
Archbishop Gabriel Abegunrin, who led the protest called on the leadership of the country to as a matter of urgency act to put a stop to the incessant killings.
Abegunrin said: “We, who are gathered here this morning, are the leadership of the Catholic Archdiocese of Ibadan together with the Religious and Lay Faithful.
“We want to register our displeasure over the killings in different parts of the country which has made Nigeria a killing field – a situation which has attracted opprobrium from the comity of nations.
“This protest and prayerful demonstration to register our displeasure on these killings.
“It will interest you to know that until this moment that we are having this protest and peaceful demonstration, no words of sympathy or consolation has been addressed to the Catholic community in Nigeria for our loss.’’
The cleric called for the arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators of the killings.
At the State Secretariat, the Chief of Staff to Governor Abiola Ajimobi, Dr Gbade Ojo, who received the protesters on behalf of the governor, blamed the unfortunate incidence on security operatives.
Ojo said they failed to provide intelligence but appealed to Nigerians to be tolerant of all irrespective of religious inclinations.
According to him, it is time to learn from the consequences of intolerance and strive to live together.
Ojo said: “It is the primary responsibility of security operatives to protect lives.
“Our inability to live together is a sign of manifestation of the failure of national integration and a sign of not developing fast as a nation.
“I charge us as Christians to also pray for our leaders, according to biblical instructions.
“I assure us if we pray without ceasing, we will see the change we desire because pray works.’’
