Church leaders back fight against illegal migrations, threaten sanction on colluding pastors

Several church leaders from various denominations have met in Benin City, Edo State to add their voices to the campaign against human trafficking and illegal migration, threatening sanction against any pastor found to be aiding the practice.

The event was organised by the state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) In his remarks, national president, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN, Rev Felix Omobude also advised that the church should go back to the basics of Christianity founded on salvation and faith

“I have travelled to Italy and met with a lot of our people and tried to let them express the true position of things to the people at home.I have visited one or two of the prisons in Italy and my heart broke at the number of our children that are languishing in jail.

“We must take our stance as a church that what is wrong is wrong whether poverty or not, we must not condescend so low to give ourselves to this evil practice and I will like to see church leaders stand strong on it. Some of us we went to farm, I tapped rubber to go to school, I sold newspaper in this town, we must highlight our values.

“While we engage government and other public institutions to provide for our people, we must be resolute no situation should make us allow our children to migrate illegally. I have met pastors who will say my daughter in Brussels bought me a car and you don’t really know what many of them are doing you will say my daughter in Glasgow. It is time we face reality in this meeting, we must resolve that any pastor or man of God, or prophet with a cross in the neck that support or aid or abet illegal migration, wherever he is, he is should be identified, should be sanctioned CAN should publicly disown such a pastor. Such pastors that bring disgrace to us, will not leave to enjoy his booties, grace will run out of him. Let us go back to the basics, we were raised up to believe that salvation is by faith.”

Earlier, the state chairman of CAN, Bishop Oyonnude Kure warned that any Pastor caught would not be spared but meant to face the full wrath of the law. “Any pastor involved in this inhuman and nefarious wicked activity must repent completely and stop this evil act now. Any one who refuses to stop and is caught the Church of Jesus Christ in Edo State and Nigeria Will deny the person and ensure that the authorities arrest, prosecute and punish the person.

“Whatever is the rationale for this evil act is unjustifiable in all its entirety and is against the tenet of true religion. Section 33 of the 1999 constitution as amended which guarantees the right to every Nigeria us being violated by this inhuman activity.

They commended the Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki and the Oba of Benin for their role in ensuring that the menace is curbed. General overseer, Church of God mission International, Archbishop Margret Benson Idahosa, said it time for all to join hands against the menace. She suggested that one of the ways to end the illicit activity is for government and all stakeholders to create and encourage youths to acquire vocational skills rather seeking greener pastures in other climes.”