Owo church massacre: Federal Govt focused on 2023 elections while terrorists are operating with impunity – CAN

The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, has reacted to the terror attack on St Francis Catholic Church, Owo in Ondo State, stating that while the Federal Government is focused on the 2023 general elections, terrorists are operating with impunity killing innocent people.

Gistlover had earlier reported that many people were feared dead with several injured after suspected terrorists blew up the church during service.

CAN in a statement on Sunday condemned “the unprovoked attacks and killing of several innocent worshippers”, while calling on security agencies to apprehend the perpetrators of the “dastardly criminality”.

The statement titled, ‘Owo carnage: No explanation for the carnage’, was signed by Pastor Adebayo Oladeji, Media Assistant to the CAN President, Rev Dr Samson Ayokunle.

The statement read, “This is sad, wrong, condemnable, outrageous, unacceptable and satanic. There is no explanation for this unprovoked attack and assault on a place of worship. This is raw persecution. These people are possessed, demonic and are not working for the good of the country. May God descend heavily on them and fight them mindless agents of Satan from their roots in Jesus’ name.

“We are once again reiterating our quest for a total overhauling of the security architecture and are asking President Muhammadu Buhari to stop the recycling of those criminals and terrorists in the name of de-radicalising programme. If the programme is not counterproductive, how come the criminalities are always on the increase and nowhere is safe again.

“This menace of insecurity has gotten out of hand and is embarrassingly sore. Criminals are operating with impunity all over the country and unfortunately, our government appears to be so busy with the 2023 general election that it has no time for the unending killings in the country.

“What legacy is the government and those who are the managers of our security architecture leaving behind for the unborn generation? We are praying for the government and the security agencies to get it right before it will be too late.

“If the Federal government is not interested in the State Police, what efforts are being put in place to arrest this unpleasant situation? We call on the State Governors to meet with the President to find a lasting solution to these killings. Issuing mere press statements of condemnation and what looks like an empty threat is apparently not a way out of it.

“CAN commiserates with all the bereaved, the Olowo of Owo, Oba Gbadegesin Ogunoye, the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria and the Ondo State Government.”