TheCable

Daniel Okoh, president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), says the killing of Stephen Naman, a seminarian in Kaduna, shows Nigeria is yet to win the war against insecurity.

The CAN president spoke on Sunday at the second plenary meeting of the Catholic bishops’ conference of Nigeria which held in Abuja.

On Thursday night, bandits invaded Kamantan and Sabon Kaura in Zangon Kataf area of the state, killing two people.

Residents of the community reportedly killed one of the bandits. In retaliation, the bandits set the parish where Naman was hiding ablaze. He was consumed by the inferno.

Speaking at the meeting, Okoh, who was represented by Samson Fatokun, CAN general secretary, commiserated with the bishops over the killing.

“This plenary session is coming at a time when Nigerians are still going through excruciating pains arising from harsh economic policies, recklessness of past governments, banditry and kidnapping. Prices of basic necessities have skyrocketed beyond the reach of ordinary people, and there appears not to be any respite in sight,” he said.

“The living conditions of average Nigerian families today are better imagined than experienced. In addition, the new wave of military coups among our close neighbours and calls from certain quarters for military action against the coupists raise fears that living conditions may worsen in our country if that option is eventually taken by the Authority of the ECOWAS Heads of Government. It is indeed a time to worry!

“In all these, I believe that God Almighty will use faith leaders to fix this country if we do not give up. As you go through this meeting, it is my sincere prayer that you will rise from this meeting with more strategic ways to engage those in government in order to get better solutions to our myriad of problems in our nation. Nigeria will be great again.”

The CAN president said Nigeria is still buffeted on all sides by issues that threaten its collective existence.

He appealed to the bishops to continue to pray for Nigeria and the leaders so that they will lead with empathy and the fear of God.

“I appeal to you not to relent in praying for the Unity of Believers and against all forces that fan the embers of division in the Body of Christ in Nigeria,” he said.