The President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) and Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, yesterday said the killing of worshippers by gunmen at St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State.
Dozens of worshippers were reported to have been killing in the attack.
According to Sultan, it is mandatory for security agencies to help in rescuing the helpless citizens that all Nigerians have become.
The Sultan, in a statement by Zubairu Haruna Usman-Ugwu, NSCIA Director of Administration, described the heinous attack as a crime against humanity, and a grievous and inexplicable sin.
“All peoples of faith should take this attack as a direct attack on all law-abiding citizens and should therefore be in the vanguard to halt the evil that appears to be assailing the life, property and integrity of humanity, particularly believers in God,” he said.
The council also urged the governments at all levels to issue and pursue an ultimatum for the security agencies to unravel the identity and bring to book, the perpetrators “of the violation of sanctity of not only life, but also religions.
“The security agents, who have been engaged to combat criminality and insecurity, are enjoined to heed the Qur’anic call that: ‘…For had it not been that God checks one set of people by means of another; monasteries, churches, synagogues, and mosques, wherein the name of God is persistently mentioned would surely have been pulled down. Verily, God will help those who help His (Cause). Truly, God is All-Strong, All-Mighty. (Q 22: 40)’.
“The council stands in absolute solidarity with the Christian Association of Nigeria, the Catholic community, the government and people of Ondo State and commiserates with the families of the victims in this period of immeasurable agony and distress.
“May Allah grant us peace and security in our nation. Amin!”
Minority Leader, House of Representatives, Ndudi Elumelu, in a statement, described the incident as proof of “the abysmal failure” by President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration in tackling terrorism head-on.
He alleged that the incident was due “incompetence and manifest lack of capacity by the All Progressives Congress administration to confront terrorism and secure our nation.”
Amnesty International’s Nigeria Director, Osai Ojigho, in a statement, said the perpetrators must face justice.
He said the incident revealed the impunity enjoyed by gunmen on the rampage across Nigeria.
He said the “tragic event” should offer a wake-up call for the authorities, “who must now do everything they can, to ensure the perpetrators of this appalling crime face justice.”
He noted that under international human rights law, Nigeria has a duty to protect the right to life of its people in all circumstances.
“Victims and their families have a right to know the truth about this shooting and to be provided with justice and reparations. Amnesty International is calling on the Nigerian judicial authorities to immediately launch a thorough and impartial investigation to identify the perpetrators of this crime, and to prosecute and judge them in fair trials, without recourse to the death penalty,” he said.
National chairman, Youth Wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Belusochukwu Enwere, said the perpetrators must be fished out and punished.
A former Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Ambrose Aisabor, said security had collapsed in Nigeria, asking Buhari to send an executive bill to the National Assembly to implement state police.
In a chat with Daily Trust, Aisabor flayed the attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State.
Osinbajo visits Ondo, says perpetrators won’t go scot-free–Osinbajo
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday said the perpetrators of the gruesome murder of parishioners at the St Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, would be fished out and made to face the full wrath of the law.
Osinbajo, according to a statement by his spokesman, Laolu Akande, spoke when he visited Owo town and the Catholic Church to commiserate with the clergy, community and people of the state.
The vice president also visited those who were injured at St. Louis Catholic Hospital in the town.
Describing the incident as a terrible tragedy and unspeakable evil by depraved minds and terrorists, he noted that President Buhari had ordered a full-scale investigation of the crime.
During his visit to the palace of the Olowo of Owo, Oba Ajibade Gbadegesin Ogunoye III, Osinbajo, accompanied by Governor Akeredolu, said his visit was on behalf of Buhari, who sent his condolences.
He assured Akeredolu of the Federal Government’s support for the security and welfare of the people of Ondo State.
Addressing youths outside of the palace, the Osinbajo urged them not to take matters into their hands, but allow the rule of law and justice take its course.
“The solutions lie, not just in government, but in all of us, especially young people. And I believe very strongly in Nigeria’s young people. We’ll eventually solve all of these challenges, and all of us will be involved.”
Tinubu donates N75m to victims, church
The national leader of the All Progressives Congress and presidential aspirant of the party, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, yesterday donated N75m to victims of the Owo church attack.
Speaking at the palace of Olowo, Oba Ajibade Gbadegesin Ogunoye during a condolence visit in company of the state governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, Tinubu described the attack on the innocent worshippers as evil.
A statement by Tinubu’s Media Office yesterday quoted Tinubu as promising to work with Akeredolu to bring succor to the victims.
Tinubu also asked the Federal Government to tackle the security challenges bedeviling the nation.
According to the statement, “Before he visited the church for on the spot assessment, Asiwaju Tinubu pledged the sum of N50m to the victims and another N25m to the Owo Catholic Church.”
By Abbas Jimoh, Itodo Daniel Sule, Saawua Terzungwe, Terkula Igidi (Abuja) & Abdullateef Salau (Lagos)
