DEFEND YOURSELVES OH YOU CHILDREN OF GOD

Kaduna killings: There is no law against self defence - Cleric

Author: Adeola Opeyemi

UPDATED: 3 DAYS AGO

VIEWS: 13815

 TWEET IT!  SHARE ON FACEBOOK  SEND VIA EMAIL  SEND ON WHATSAPP

- The President of Pentencostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Felix Omobude called out to Christians to defend themeselves against constant attacks by Fulani herdsmen believed to be Muslims

- He said Christians might have to defend themselves against attacks if the security agencies failed to defend them

- He lamented the ongoing killings in Southern Kaduna and stated that all efforts are not being put in place by the government and security agencies to end the killings

Less than a week after the senior pastor of Omega Fire Ministries Worldwide, Apostle Johnson Suleman, called on his church members to attack and kill any Fulani herdsmen found around his church, the national president of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) Dr. Felix Omobude has also declared that there is no written law that stops Christians from defending themselves against violence allegedly being perpetrated against them by Fulani herdsmen.

Kaduna killings: There is no law against self defence - Cleric

He said the body however called for restraints in the face of aggression, saying that the “nation will be in chaos if we all don’t exercise restraint.’’

According to Punch, Omobude made this statement at a press conference to address national issue.

Omobude, who called on the security agencies to be alert and protect people’s lives, said communities might be forced to defend themselves against aggression if help isn’t forthcoming from the security agencies.

The clergy also lamented the killings in Southern Kaduna, adding that responses to the attacks have not been adequate and effective.

He said: “There is no law in our faith or even in the constitution that forbids you from defending yourself if you have the capability. We can’t watch and allow this to continue. We have seen communities that form civilian joint task force to defend themselves.

“We have called on authorities in this country to defend citizens whether they are Muslims or Christians. Government must, at all levels, stand impartial so that they are not seen as defending one religion against another.

“Our faith does not necessarily allow us to do things that way. This nation will be in chaos if we all don’t exercise restraint. If we do that, we also expose our people to insecurity. Let no one count Christians as weak; nobody has monopoly of violence. We have only restrained our people. Those who use religion to fan the embers of disunity should know that it is an ill-wind that will blow no one good. The security agencies need to do their job.’’

Omobude also sympathized with people who lost loved ones to theaccidental bombing of an Internally Displaced Persons camp in Rann, Borno State.

He said: “We feel the pains of the families of the bereaved and pray for the quick recovery of those that are injured. But we should not judge the Nigerian Air Force with just this mistake. The concern to us is the development in Southern Kaduna. This problem has been on and it is now taking different dimensions. The PFN is worried that this killing has continued and we do know that it is the primary responsibility of government to protect the lives of people.”

Meanwhile, governors of the 19 northern states under the umbrella of the Northern Governors Forum met on January 23, with emirs,chiefs and other political leaders over the continuous violence of Fulani herdsmen and religious crises in the region.

The main purpose of the meeting, christened ‘An extraordinary meeting’ by the chairman of the Northern Governors Forum and Governor of Borno state, Kashim Shettima, was to find a lasting solution to the security challenges and socio-economic problems confronting the northern region.