TheCable

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has asked the Department of State Services (DSS) to arrest bandits killing Nigerians instead of always raising the alarm. 

TheCable had reported how the DSS on Wednesday raised the alarm over alleged plans by some persons and groups to cause ethno-religious violence in some parts of the country — after a similar warning in January.

“For the umpteenth time, the Service strongly warns these elements to desist forthwith from their (planned) nefarious acts or face the full wraths of the law,” Peter Afunanya, public relations officer (PRO) of the agency, said in a statement.

“The DSS will, in collaboration with other security and law enforcement agencies, take necessary steps to ensure the safety of lives and property of the citizenry.”

But in a statement,  Adebayo Oladeji, spokesman for Samson Ayokunle, president of CAN, said the agency should focus on tackling terrorists, bandits, kidnappers and other criminal elements causing trouble in the country.

“Whenever the DSS raises alarm over the security of the country, ordinarily, one should take them seriously because of the fact that their primary responsibility includes, but not limited to intelligence gathering,” he said.

“We recall that they raised similar alarm recently. But how many suspects were arrested, detained and arraigned? All the killings in the country have been happening without bringing those responsible to book. Are they not aware? People are being kidnapped on the highways and in their residences without any arrest. We wonder why? Those who are shedding the innocent blood and those who are kidnapping for ransom are they spirits? This doesn’t speak well of us as a nation.

“Terrorists, bandits, kidnappers and other criminals are not invincible and until they are apprehended and successfully prosecuted, people will no longer have respect for those who are in charge of the security. The media should stand up and asked our government serious questions through front page comments and editorial. Things are becoming increasingly complicated daily. Criminals are operating as if our security agencies are on holidays.

“CAN has been calling for total overhauling of the security architecture, but that has fallen on deaf ears. May God deliver us from those criminals who are now operating with impunity.”