The Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, His Lordship, Alfred
Adewale Martins has warned the Presidency led by Mohammadu Buhari, not to take
the resolve of Catholics for peaceful resolution of problems for granted,
reports ITRealms.
Archbishop Martins who led over 3 million Catholics in Lagos
Archdiocese to a peaceful protest over incessant killings of Nigerians by
terrorists herdsmen on Tuesday in an open letter delivered to Governor’s Office
in Alausa-Lagos, and made available to ITRealms,
said Catholics recognize the strength in seeking and insisting on peaceful
resolution of problems.
“So, we hope that will not be taken for granted,” he warned.
He noted that they are mourning with heavy hearts the murder
of two priests, Rev. Frs. Joseph Gor and Felix Tyolaha and 17 lay faithful who
were mowed down last month, April 16, while attending an early morning Mass at
St Ignatius Catholic Church, Ukpor-Mbalom, Gwer Local Government of Benue
State.
According to him, by these killings, the perpetrators, who
unfortunately are still roaming about freely, have further desecrated all that
we hold dear as Christians and dared us to do our worst.
“As these men and women of faith are committed to mother
earth today in Makurdi, we bid them perpetual rest in the bosom of our Lord,
even as we say with one voice, enough is enough. We can no longer stay still
and watch our fellow humans butchered like chickens,” Martins maintained.
He also said that justice cries out for all the innocent
Nigerians who have died in the hands of the gun totting herdsmen.
“We are aware that the Vice President recently promised that
the Federal Government would undertake the rebuilding of the places that were
destroyed by the killer-herdsmen in Benue State and hopefully in other similar
places.
“We hope that people will also be compensated for the loss
of their farm produce and of their properties so that the Internally Displaced
People who have been turned to beggars will get justice and restoration to
normal life. Very importantly, we urge you, Mr President, to direct the
security agencies to wake up, fish out the perpetrators of these callous killings
and neutralize them so that people can once again feel safe.
“We pride ourselves with having some of the best security
agencies in the world. This is the time for them to prove their mettle by
bringing an end to these killings.
“Mr President, that time has come for you to act fast and
put to rest all the insinuations being pandered all over about you. We
reiterate that our call for your urgent intervention is borne out of our deep
patriotism and desire to save the country from imminent crisis that could
snowball into ethnic, tribal or religious war,” he urged.
The Archbishop further prayed God to grant Mr. President and
his team the wherewithal to carry out their duties and bring peace, security
and growth to the nation.
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