Ondo Anglican diocese seeks probe of insurgency, end to genocides

Anglicans in the Diocese On the Coast, Ondo State, have urged the Federal Government to investigate the insurgency in the Northeast with a view to unraveling the reasons it has not been able to end the killings of innocent Nigerians by the terrorists.

At the 2018 Synod of the diocese held at the St. John The Baptist Anglican Church, Igbotako, Okitipupa, Ondo State, the delegates lamented the persistent killing in the zone despite government’s claim that the Boko Haram insurgents had been defeated.

They enjoined President Muhammadu Buhari to respect his oath of office to protect Nigerians and their properties by putting an end to the killings by terrorists and herdsmen.

According to them, the failure of the military to resist the abductors of the school girls in Dapchi, Yobe State while travelling in about 10 trucks to and from the scene of their heinous act makes many to fear sabotage of government’s effort by some powerful and selfish Nigerians.

The Synod expressed worry that Leah Shaibu, a Christian, has remained in the bondage of the kidnappers after her fellow Muslim students have been set free through government negotiations with the abductors.

The Anglicans said the claim by President Buhari that the killer herdsmen were illegal immigrants from Libya was unacceptable, urging him to overhaul the nation’s security system to contain the persistent killings in Benue, Taraba, Plateau and Southern Kaduna that are predominantly inhabited by Christians.

The Synod, with the theme: Make Jesus Your Focus, was directed by the Diocesan, Rev. Ebunoluwa Ogunele, and attended by government officials and traditional rulers, among others.

The Anglicans called for intervention of the Governor Rotimi Akeredolu administration to end the prolong disconnection of the local governments in Ondo South District from the national grid to save the economies of the affected areas from total collapse and prevent further destruction of the means of livelihood of the people.

The diocese sympathised with the hundreds of people who lost their homes and other properties, or got parts of them damaged, in a recent storm that hit many communities in Okitipupa Local Council and enjoined the state government to assist the victims.