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Tag: Killings

  • Insecurity in Katsina: Man arrested in Abuja for leading protest against killings in Buhari’s state

    Insecurity in Katsina: Man arrested in Abuja for leading protest against killings in Buhari’s state

    Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG), Nastura Sharif, has been arrested by the police in connection with the protest against the insecurity in the north.

    On Tuesday, some members of the group protested in Katsina, calling on Aminu Masari, the governor, to resign if he could not guarantee the security of lives.

    They also demanded action from the government of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    In a statement on Wednesday, Aminu Adam, the group’s director of operations, said the police arrested Sharif after “the peaceful protest”.

    He explained that after the protest, Sanusi Buba, the state commissioner of police, invited leaders of the group for an interactive session in his office.

    Adam said five member of the group, including himself and Sharif, had honoured a police invitation after which theb group’s leader was detained.

    “After the protest ended peacefully, the Katsina state police commissioner, Mr. Sanusi Buba, invited us to his office for an interaction during which he told us that the Inspector General of Police wanted to see Sharif,” he said.

    “The commissioner handed us to a team of policemen, headed by the OC (officer in charge), federal operations bureau (FOB), who led us to Abuja.

    “We drove from Katsina to Abuja with the police team in a white bus and a hilux. However, on getting to force headquarters in Abuja, they told us that Sharif is under arrest for the protest and they put him in detention.”

  • BREAKING: NASS leaders to meet Buhari, military chiefs on fresh Boko Haram killings

    BREAKING: NASS leaders to meet Buhari, military chiefs on fresh Boko Haram killings

    The Senate on Thursday mandated the leadership of the National Assembly to urgently meet with President Muhammadu Buhari and the heads of the nation’s armed forces over the renewed upsurge in Boko Haram attacks.

    This resolution followed a point of order moved by Senator Abubakar Kyari (Borno North), on the recent killing of 90 people in his constituency on Tuesday.

    The Upper Chamber also urged the Federal Government to direct the Armed Forces to urgently secure areas around the Lake Chad.

    The Red Chamber also urged the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the North East Development Commission (NEDC), to send relief materials to victims of the attacks.

    It similarly urged the Federal Government to implement the Senate’s recommendations on the restructuring of the nation’s security architecture to enhance efficiency.

    The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, promised to mobilise his colleagues in the House of Representatives to meet Buhari and the security chiefs.

    He insisted any of the security chiefs who fails to perform up to expectations, even with adequate provisions, should be sacked.

    Only recently, about fewer than 81 civilians were killed and scores injured when suspected members of Boko Haram sect on Tuesday night invaded Zowo village, 34km away from Gubio town, the headquarters of Gubio Local Government Area of Borno State.

    Also, 23 animals, including cows, donkeys, goats and sheep were killed.

    Also in Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State, armed bandits raided the town and killed no fewer than 40 people, mostly old people, women and children.

     

     

  • CRA calls on ICC, UN to investigate Southern Kaduna Genocide

    … says Southern Kaduna now like Rwanda of 1994

    The Christian Rights Agenda (CRA), has called on the United Nations and the International Criminal Court (ICC) at the Hague to open investigation into the ongoing #SouthernKadunaGenocide.

    This was the high-point of CRA’s consultative meeting which ended in Abuja on Saturday.

    CRA in a statement by Tom Chiahemen, Interim Director of Publicity lamented the continuous killings and annihilation of indigenous Christians in Kajuru, Chikun and other local government areas of Southern Kaduna.

    The statement also noted with concern the nonchalant attitude of both the federal and Kaduna state government and said they cannot be absolved of complicity.
    This is heightened by the fact that both the President of the county and governor of Kaduna are not only Muslims but have presided over government policies that did not protect the interest of Christians.

    It is time for the Prosecutor of the ICC Ms Fatou Bensouda, to set up a fact-finding panel in order to end the pogrom before it is too late. What is obvious is that the Nigerian state has failed to protect the Southern Kaduna indigenous Christian communities and the situation is deteriorating on daily basis.

    In some instances, villagers have reported sighting helicopter dropping strange people and parcels in the bush which they believed to be weapons for the terrorist ahead of attacks.

    The killings in Southern Kaduna has all the semblance of the 1994 Rwandan genocide. The time for the ICC to act is now before it is too late.

    The CRA said it had taken Judicial notice of the fact that the Kaduna State Government, under Administration of Governor Nasiru Elrufai, has not only been silent over these killings, neither has he visited any of the destroyed villages nor visited those taking shelter in various Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) Camps in the area.

    The CRA recalls that in February 2019, Governor Elrufai was quick to announce alleged killings in the area where he reeled out unsubstantiated figures that were later disputed by the Police and Army.

    Yet, the same Governor, who, some months ago, visited victims of Banditry in Birnin Gwari and even apologized for his government’s inability to protect the people as the chief security officer of the state, has not found it worthy to do same to Christian dominated Southern Kaduna where indigenous Christians are being killed almost on daily basis, the statement noted.

    Against this background, the CRA is forced to believe or view the ongoing pogrom as nothing but a deliberately orchestrated genocide aimed at exterminating indigenous Christians from their ancestral lands and taking it over by a certain armed ethnic and religious group.

    CRA commends the efforts of the leadership of the Southern Kaduna People’s Union who have been proactive in responding to the needs of these hapless communities by rallying support and distribution of relief materials to the victims.

    Statistical information at the disposal of CRA indicates that from 2018 to date, no fewer than 15,000 Christian children, women, old and young have been maimed and killed by armed groups alleged to be Fulani terrorists in Kaduna, Plateau, Nasarawa, Benue and Taraba states while the Federal and State governments have been unable to protect them.
    This is in addition to another 620 people who have been brutally murdered, according to documents obtained by CRA from The International Society for Civil Liberties & Rule of Law (ISCLRL).
    No fewer than 32, 000 Christians have been killed in the last 10years.

    The report also warned that militant Fulani herdsmen and the Boko Haram have intensified their anti-Christian violence in the Middle Belt and Northeast regions of Nigeria with the burning or destroying of Christian centers of worship and learning. In addition, hundreds of homes have been destroyed.

    It is time for all Nigerians, all men and women of goodwill to rise up and speak against this evil which, if left unchecked, will set this country on fire, the statement noted.

  • Killings: I won’t return to Abuja till Boko Haram is defeated – Buratai

    The Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen. Yusuf Tukur Buratai has vowed that he will not leave the theatre of Operation Lafiya Dole until he gave a final blow on the Boko Haram insurgents in the northeast.

    Recall that Buratai had earlier announced his relocation to the northeast following the pounding of the insurgents by the Chadian Army from the Lake Chad axis where the President Idris Deby is claiming to have held a section of Nigeria waiting to handover to Nigerian troops.

    The Chief of Army Staff who had a special Easter celebration with the troops on Monday at Ngamdu Special Super Camp regretted that the insurgency has lasted for too long but gave assurances that in no time the Boko Haram elements will be defeated.

    “We will not leave this insurgency to last like in other countries who have fought insurgency for close to 50 years. We cannot allow that to happen here”, Buratai said.

    Gen. Buratai assured the troops of the support of Mr. President who he said has provided all that they need to defeat the enemies.

    He also promised that he will not leave the camp until he gives a final blow on the insurgents.

    “You may wonder that this counter-insurgency operation has lingered for too long, we all know globally that counter terrorism is very complex. There are some countries that have fought counter terrorism for close to 50years. But we’re not going to leave it, we will not leave this camp

    “We are here, we will not leave this camp until we substantially degrade these criminals. By God’s willing, we shall be there with you no going back once we commence. We will be with you in the valleys, on the hill, in the jungle, in the river and so on. As I speak now, we have some element that are providing us necessary intelligence and once we start, no going back. We are here and we make sure that we get ourselves properly motivated, properly equipped and I assure you will have the best of time.

    “Some of you have been here before like two three times but I tell you are going to have the best of time. We want the best out of you. We need your courage and determination.

    “I want you to have at the back of your minds that Mr. President solidly behind you. We have already started getting the consignment of what we require for us to handle these insurgency and terrorism. It a matter of time and a very short time.

    “If I ask you a question, will you answer me? The question is, is anybody ready to chicken out?

    A thunderous NO erupted from the soldiers and the COAS continued.

    “We make sure that we never go back. Forward ever, backward, never. Thank you and God bless you all”.

    Highlights of the occasion was the COAS serving food to troops as soldiers dance and celebrate the Easter.

  • Kaduna killings: We’ll not negotiate with bandits – El-Rufai

    Malam Nasir El-Rufai, the Governor of Kaduna State, on Monday visited communities in Igabi and Giwa LGAs that suffered fatal attacks by bandits on Sunday.

    According to a statement signed by the Commissioner, Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan on Monday, the Governor
    condoled the people of Kerawa, Zariyawa, Hashimawa, Wazata and other communities in Igabi and Giwa local government areas.

    He said, “the Governor assured the people that there will be no negotiations with bandits, affirming that the proper response to the criminals is a sustained offensive by security agencies.

    “Governor El-Rufai expressed his sadness at the loss of lives, even as he commended the security agencies for tracing and neutralizing the bandits.”

    The governor, while at Kerawa village, said,“The situation is tragic, sad and pathetic. In this village alone 41 corpses were buried, according to the Imam. In the other villages two or three were attacked. Bandits attacked these villages, needlessly killed people and properties were destroyed.

    “The security agencies were able to attack them both from the ground and air and most of the bandits were wiped out.

    “I am very grateful to the Nigerian Air Force, the Nigerian Army, Civil Defence, Nigeria Police, as well as the SSS for been vigilant. It’s sad that we have lost many lives, but it would have been worse if the security agencies had not responded quickly. We came here to condole with the people and appeal to them to be patient and cooperate with the security agencies.”

    “As people placed in government the responsibility to protect these people lies squarely on my shoulders and my colleagues,” he said.

    The Governor, who insisted that the government will not negotiate with bandits, said,
    “In Kaduna State, we have zero tolerance for bandits. We don’t give them amnesty we don’t negotiate with them; we asked the security agencies to just wipe them out.

    “This banditry should be declared an insurgency and they should be fought in the same way as the Boko Haram.There’s no room for any negotiation or treaty, no room for negotiation with any bandits.

    “We are hoping that this banditry will end because the security agencies are taking the war to the bandits. We are doing our best and will continue. Our people need to be patient and continue to pray for us. Only God is perfect, I know the security agencies are doing their best,” he further said

    Malam El-Rufai was accompanied on the condolence tour by the GOC, One Division Nigerian Army, Maj-Gen Faruk Yahaya, Commissioner of Police, Umaru Muri, Director of State Services, Idris Koya, Secretary to the State Government, Balarabe Abbas Lawal and other senior officials.

  • Ash Wednesday: Christians to dress in black attires to protest killings in Nigeria

    Millions of Christians across the Diocese of Roman Catholic Church in Nigeria have concluded plans to come out on Wednesday, 26th of February in all black attires during the procession of Ash Wednesday to show their grievances over the killings in Nigeria and the insecurity situation of the country.

    The Church has also mobilised its members all over the world to pray for the current insecurity challenges of the country.

    Rev. Fr. Felix Gobi, the Senior Parish Priest of St. Peter’s Nunkai in Jalingo, the Taraba State capital made this known during today’s mass sermon.

    He said the planned “Black Dress Protest” is across all the parishes in Nigeria.

    Gobi, while urging his parishioners to come out in their numbers, said the church would continue to show signs of concern over the unjust killings of Christians and Nigerians until the security situation is improving.

    “We will continue to talk to our leaders that this way, we want to let them know that the killings of Christians by Boko Haram and killings of Nigerians by arm bandit and kidnappers is a condemned situation and must stop.

    “Until we see the will to stop these ceaseless killings and an improved security situation in Nigeria where human lives must be respected, what we are experiencing in Nigeria now is not of God, is Satanic.”

    DAILY POST, while speaking with members of the church, also gathered that the same announcement about the planned protest was made in all the parishes of the Jalingo Diocese and beyond.

    The information available shows that the Roman Catholic churches in big cities of Nigeria like Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt and other major cities would carry out the “Black Dress Protest” on the streets while other churches who are found in vulnerable areas would observe their protest in their churches as they Mark the Ash Wednesday.

  • PFN writes Buhari , demands compensation for killings targeted at churches in Nigeria

    PFN writes Buhari , demands compensation for killings targeted at churches in Nigeria

    The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to put an end to unending cycle of violence and killings in Nigeria,while stressing that compensation be given to churches, other affected persons .

    The body, in a communique issued at the end of its special stakeholders’ meeting in Lagos and signed by its National President, Dr Felix Omobude and its National Secretary, Apostle Emmanuel Nuhu Kure, lamented the the spate of killings, banditry, kidnapping, violence, wanton destruction of lives and properties across the nation, saying Nigeria has reached such a totally unacceptable level to warrant immediate and complete review of the security arrangement of the nation.

    “The PFN calls on the government of President Muhammadu Buhari to do what it was elected to do by putting an end to this unending cycle of violence and killings in Nigeria, as security of lives and property is the primary constitutional duty of the government. We enjoin President Buhari to live up to his campaign promises and execute the responsibility of his office by defending the life of every Nigerian, no matter the ethnicity or religion.

    “We wish to remind our President that he is the President of every Nigerian and that he, along with all our elected officials, have responsibility for the safety and security of all Nigerians. The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) notes that from the onset, Boko Haram has left no-one in doubt that the Church in Nigeria is its principal target. Its activities, especially the kidnapping and barbaric killings of Christian Clergymen, clearly establishes its evil mission and objective.

    “On account of the monumental losses the Church in Nigeria has suffered with the destruction and burning down of thousands of churches and houses by insurgents and rioters across the Northern states of Nigeria, the PFN renews its call for adequate compensation to be paid to all affected persons and churches. We believe that the fair and just thing is for the government to come up with a remediation programme to compensate victims for the hardship they have suffered,” it said.

    The PFN restated its call for the Federal Government to activate the necessary mechanism and legal backing for the setting up of State Police in the country, saying it believed that the recent agitation and introduction of different variants of Regional and Community Policing models attested to the fact that Nigerians were yearning for an alternative approach to policing, one that incorporated direct participation by other tiers of government in tackling insecurity in the country.

    The body said it was highly concerned at the intolerable level of poverty across the country, worsened by the high level of unemployment, especially among the Youths.

    “We believe that the heightened anxiety in the land and spike in heinous crimes that we are witnessing correlates with the high level of unemployment in the country. We call on the government to urgently address the issue of youth unemployment and find ways to tap into our areas of competitive advantage to help with the creation of investment, entrepreneurial and employment opportunities.

    “The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) is disturbed that millions of Nigerian children are out of school. We see this as a ticking time bomb, one which has not only provided tools for crime and terrorism in the past, but one that can only provide a recruitment pool for terrorism and all sorts of crimes in the future. The PFN believes in the transformational power of good education. We call on government at all levels to ensure free and compulsory education for all Nigerian children, up till secondary level, as a means of breaking this chain of poverty.

    “The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) restates our call for the reform of public institutions to make them truly independent and in line with global best practices. We are disturbed at the fact that never in the history of Nigeria has our democracy been as corrupted as it is today. We call on the Federal Government, under President Muhammadu Buhari, to institute necessary reforms to deepen the democratic process by delivering to Nigerians a corruption-free electoral system,” it added.

    According to PFN, the institutions of government should not be seen to be working for one political interest or the other, as they should discharge their duties without fear or favour, eschewing partisanship in their conduct, ensuring that the interest of the nation comes first in all their activities.

    It called on the Federal Government to take on-board the calls for the restructuring of the country, sauying the body was of the view that it would not be out of place for the country to explore restructuring to be considered in a holistic manner to bring about more inclusiveness, such that all the fault lines presently causing tension can be addressed in a way that will promote peace and unity in the country.

    The PFN further called on Buhari and the Federal Government of Nigeria to work assiduously to ensure the release of those held in captivity by Boko Haram, and its likes especially Leah Sharibu, the Chibok girls, as well as other Nigerians being held captive.

    “The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria PFN calls on all patriotic Nigerians, irrespective of their ethnic, religious or party affiliations to come together and work with the Federal Government to end the violence that has bedevilled Nigeria so that the country may enjoy peace again. We should not politicise the issue of security or bring partisanship into it, rather we should work with the greater interest of the nation at heart.

    “The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) will continue to work with like-minded institutions and individuals for the peace and progress of Nigeria. We pledge to continue to pray and work towards securing lasting peace in every part of our nation,” the body said.

  • Boko Haram: Zulum goes spiritual; orders fasting and prayers to end killings

    Borno Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum has declared a spiritual war against Boko Haram and ISWAP, saying the emergence of insurgency in 2009 was itself a strange evil, requiring a similar medicine.

    Zulum, who had been working hard to end the insurgency and even once hired prayer warriors in Saudi Arabia, declared next Monday, February 24, 2020 for statewide fasting and prayers, in combination with intensified offensive by Nigeria’ military and volunteer forces against Boko Haram insurgents.

    Zulum made the declaration in a six-minute broadcast to the people of Borno State on Wednesday.

    He however said there will be no public holiday on Monday.

    The insurgents have lately resumed serial attacks on communities in different parts of Borno state with the latest in Chibok on Tuesday after previous one in Auno last Sunday.

    The Governor after enumerating ongoing collaboration with the military, mass recruitment, equipping and deployment of thousands of volunteers in the Civilian JTF, hunters and vigilantes, said his call for prayers was a strange but necessary decision made based on popular wish of Borno people.

    “Even though this decision is based on the popular demand of our people, some observers may rightly argue that it is a strange call. But then, Borno has been befallen with a strange evil since 2009, and sometimes, strange ailments require strange approaches.

    “As your Governor, I hereby declare Monday the 24th of February 2020 as a day of devotion to pray for the return of peace in Borno. I intend to fast on that day and I appeal to every one of us in Borno, who can, to join in that simple, but pricelessly rewarding spiritual endeavour. I also appeal for the sacrifices of all other well-meaning friends and associates of Borno who can, to join us in fasting on Monday, insha’Allah, for the restoration of peace in Borno State and rest of Nigeria.

    “I urge all of us to be steadfast in prayers. But in doing that, we certainly do not need to congregate in open fields for dramas.

    “It would also not matter whether we are within or outside Borno State and whether we are at work places, markets or not. There will be no public holiday, after all, God is everywhere, at home and at work.

    “Let us pray to Him with the purest intention, total devotion, submission and unwavering faith.

    “His eminence, the Shehu of Borno has assured me of his call on imams of all mosques across the 27 local government areas of the state to recite the Qunut throughout the five congregational prayers on Monday. Leaders of the Christian community have also assured me of special prayer sessions in churches.

    “However, as citizens, we are all free to pray in the best ways we prefer” the Governor said.

    Zulum began his broadcast by recalling recent security threats posed by the Boko Haram.

    “Fellow citizens, in the last couple of days and weeks, Borno has faced resurging attacks from insurgents. The latest of these attacks happened around Chibok yesterday while the most horrific took place at Auno town in Konduga. Fellow citizens were atrociously set ablaze, amongst them, an infant and nursing mother.

    “Before these recent incidents, many communities also came under varied degrees of murderous attacks in the north, south and central parts of Borno State.

    “I share the grief of fellow citizens who have either lost their loved ones or confronted the agony of watching loved ones on hospital beds. I feel the trauma of hundreds of thousands of fellow citizens who have lost everything and have been forced to live on makeshift shelters and rely on food and non-food aid as internally displaced persons and refugees in neighbouring countries.

    “Beyond sharing the griefs and pains of fellow citizens, I assure you, that we have never for one second, ignored our constitutional and moral obligations towards you, the good people of Borno State.

    “As your Governor in the last nine months, I have lived, slept and woken up with a constant reminder that where I deliberately fail to do my utmost best in trying to secure lives, Allah will hold me accountable at His appointed time.

    “Fellow citizens, security of lives and property is the number one essence of government.

    “We are continuously giving support to our gallant and patriotic armed forces in both logistics and mobilisation of community intelligence.

    “We are constantly increasing, equipping and motivating thousands of volunteers who make unquantifiable sacrifices in joining the Civilian JTF, hunters and vigilantes to defend our communities across the 27 local government areas.

    “Fellow citizens, we are more than determined to continue deploying and sustaining all lawful and necessary measures in our desperate search for enduring peace in Borno State.

    “However, as we redouble our combined efforts, we have to acknowledge that as human beings, our strengths are limited.

    “I know we have ceaselessly sought divine intervention in our individual and group prayer sessions.

    “These notwithstanding, this time around, I will like us to seek Allah’s intervention, not as individuals and groups, but as an entire state” he said.

    Governor Zulum urged citizens to pray for those killed by insurgents, armed forces and volunteers who died fighting the insurgents and troops currently in battle fronts.

    “In our prayers, we should be kind to remember thousands who were killed in this unfortunate crisis, and those who gave their lives fighting it.

    “We should also be very deliberate that Monday, in giving help, particularly of food, to our nearest in need.

    “Fellow citizens, we should fervently pray for our armed forces and volunteers, who right now, are in battle fronts risking their lives to keep us safe.

    “These gallant fighters and those who died fighting, are the true heroes of Borno. We shall remain endlessly grateful to them” Zulum said.

    “The Governor also called on citizens to pray for President Muhammadu Buhari whom he described as sincerely committed to ending the Boko Haram insurgency.

    “We should pray for our President, Muhammadu Buhari, whose sincerity in the fight against Boko Haram has never been in doubt.

    “Fellow citizens, as your Governor, I testify that President Buhari is supremely dedicated to ending the Boko Haram insurgency. The evidence of the President’s dedication is the military’s freeing of thousands of abducted citizens and the liberation of many communities in Borno State hitherto under the sovereign administration of insurgents. Majority of these communities were rebuilt and are now occupied by resettled citizens.

    “These gains for humanity, are what the Boko Haram insurgents hope and are determined to reverse. “We cannot let them succeed.

    “We must fight and pray for good to triumph over evil.

    “May God free Borno and the rest of Nigeria from insurgents and all enemies of public peace and security” the Governor said.

  • End these killings- PDP tells Buhari

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to go beyond his sympathy visit to Borno State and take decisive steps to end the killings in that state and other parts of the country.

    The party said the reaction of residents when the President visited on Wednesday was a clear message that Nigerians hold him responsible on the security of lives and properties in the country.

    In a statement on Wednesday by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party said the booing of the President also showed a loss of confidence in his administration and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The PDP called on the President not to limit his visit to Borno state but to also visit other parts of the country, including Kaduna, Kano, Benue, Plateau, Yobe, Adamawa, Zamfara, Kogi, Niger, Taraba and other states to test the feelings of Nigerians as well as view the national devastation his poor handling of security and infrastructure has caused the nation.

    The party hoped that the visit to Borno state, which it said, came only after the PDP and Nigerians criticised the President for his aloofness, particularly over the Auno killings on Sunday, was not part of the usual presidential media stunts that will not be followed with a corresponding action to track down killers and end terrorism.

    The PDP further charged the President to endeavour to go on subsequent visits by road in order to see and feel the agony Nigerians are being subjected to, as a result of the parlous state of road infrastructure and security network under his administration.

    The statement said, “Our party holds that Nigerians do not deserve a distant President, who sits in the comfort of the Presidential villa and luxury jets, remaining indifferent to the pains, anguish and torments that compatriots suffer on a daily basis.

    ”The PDP hereby calls on Mr. President to quickly embark on these visits and monitor, on first hand basis, the damage which his administration has caused and for which Nigerians are demanding that he resigns and allow more competent hands to manage the affairs of our nation.

    “It is only after these visits that the Buhari Presidency will appreciate that those calling on him to rejig the nation’s security architecture mean well for our dear country”.

     

  • BREAKING: Pastor Adeboye leads massive protest against killings of Christians in Nigeria [Video]

    BREAKING: Pastor Adeboye leads massive protest against killings of Christians in Nigeria [Video]

    General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Pastor Enoch Adeboye is leading a protest march against insecurity and killings of Christians across the Nation, especially in northern states.

    The March started by 11am shortly after he ended the service at the National Headquarters of the church in Ebute Metta, Lagos.

    The action is also to pray for “the government to develop capacity to overcome the criminals troubling the nation.”

    Recall that The Assistant General Overseer (Admin and Personnel) of the church,Pastor J.F Odesola, in a circular dated January 29, 2020 addressed to all regions and provinces of the RCCG, parishes of the church were asked to end their service not later than 11am on Sunday to enable members “march round their immediate environment, praying for God’s intervention in the ongoing situation in Nigeria.”

    The protests are at the instance of the RCCG General Overseer, Pastor Adejare Adeboye.

    According to the circular, “The Christian Association of Nigeria, the umbrella body for all Christians and Christian organizations in Nigeria, has made a clarion call for prayers and advocacy to all Christians in Nigeria in response to the inhumane acts against Christians in the country.