Cardinal of the Abuja Catholic Diocese, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, has called on Nigerians to rise above religious, political and ethnic sentiments to save the country from drifting into anarchy. Onaiyekan gave the advice yesterday, in his sermon at the burial of two catholic priests in Benue state. The two Reverend Fathers, Felix Tyolaha and Joseph Gor, were killed last month during an attack by suspected herders on their church at Ayati, an agrarian hilly village in the outskirts of Ikpayongo in Gwer East local government council of Benue state. Sympathisers, mostly Catholics, dressed in their societal attires, besieged the Ayati prayer ground as early as 7am to secure seats for the historic event. Security around the burial site was tight as only identifi ed dignitaries apart from the clergy, were allowed entry.
Speaking at the requiem mass in honour of the deceased, Onaiyekan urged an end to killings across the country, and called on well-meaning Nigerians to unite in fighting the great evil that had befallen the country. The cleric warned: “This must not be politicised. The nation is in a state of emergency. We demand for synergy; division, especially on tribal lines will only throw our nation to anarchy.” He called on the federal government to act decisively to end the spate of killings across the country. The cleric warned that if murderers were allowed to continue killing without checkmating them, “it will come to a time when people will begin to use other means of self-defence.” Onaiyekan called for forgiveness, and warned against reprisals, saying the souls of the righteous were in the hands of God. He appealed for calm and advised the Christian faithful to show appreciation to God in all situations, saying “this is our hope which is based on our trust in God.” Onaiyekan described the death of the priests and the others as a “horrific massacre which will not be forgotten for a long time.”
He also described the killed priests and their worshippers as martyrs of the church. Earlier, Bishop of Makurdi Diocese, Wilfred Anagbe, said the decision to bury the victims at the centre, was to honour them as martyrs of the church. He said the barbaric acts perpetrated against the victims would attract the wrath of God, even as he lamented the act of desecrating the church of God. “If our places of worship are no longer safe, then where can we run to in this country?” he quipped. Anagbe expressed optimism that their blood would restore peace and end the killings in the state and across the country.
Osinbajo on improved security apparatus Also speaking at the funeral, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said there was need to re-build and revamp security system of law enforcement in the country to ensure that “citizens and those who live and work in the country are safe.” He reassured that the federal government “must and will stop what he described as senseless killing of innocent lives.”
“What manner of man wakes up determined to kill innocent men, women and children? They deserve to be condemned and coursed, but need our pity the more. “But the killing of worshippers in their places of worship started so many years ago. On January 6, 2012, 12 worshippers were killed in Jos, February 25, same year, six persons were killed in Bauchi, 15 persons were killed in church in Kano; of course, there have been killings in the mosques too. “
For the two priests, worshippers and many others who have been killed in Benue, we cannot bring them back, but we can provide succour, and comfort to those they have left behind, and bring justice for them by apprehending and punishing the assailants.
We can also rebuild places that have been damaged by the invaders.” CAN tasks govt Also at a similar event in Abuja in honour of the deceased clerics, President, Christian Association of Nigeria, Rev, Fr. Samsom Olasupo Ayokunle, charged President Muhammadu Buhari to stop the spate of killings across the country or resign. Hundreds of Christians in the FCT, led by the Auxiliary Bishop of Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, Anslem Umorem, gathered at the National Christian Centre, Abuja, for a peaceful protest against killings across the country.
Ayokunle, who was represented by CAN Director, National Issues and Social Welfare, Bishop S.T. Adegbite, said the church of God in Nigeria is in mourning, noting that it is a trying time for the church. “The church of God is mourning and we are together. The president promised to protect the territorial integrity of Nigeria; that he has not done. If he does not know how to do that, let him resign. “It’s killing one too many and the church will continue to say to government that it is enough. The people killing us are not invisible; they should be arrested and prosecuted. Enough is enough. Killing of priests in church will not be accepted.”
