From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
IGP, Mohammed Adamu
A group of worshippers on a prayer walk at Ayingba in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi state were on Monday attacked by suspected hoodlums.
Eye witness account told Our Correspondent that the worshippers who had earlier sought and got permission from the kogi state police command were swopped upon shortly after the commencement of the prayer walk.
However, the Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello in a statement on Tuesday condemned the attackers as criminal elements.
The statement issued on Tuesday by his Chief Press Secretary, Onogwu Muhammed, while condemning the act, assures that perpetrators of such dastardly act will be fished out to face the full weight of the law.
Account of one of the Pastors, Bishop David Sanda of Love Oasis Church, Anyigba stated that “Yes, I was beaten and molested by ‘suspected’ Vigilante and banned SARS operatives during our prayer walk in Anyigba today.
In the train was Evang Emma Ibrahim, Pst Silas Edogbo, Pst. Sam of Dunamis and several other ministers leading a crowd of close to 400 youths. They stopped us tore the Nigeria flags we were holding and the banner saying “Lord, Heal our Land” and asked us to move to a Church.
Following a previous counsel by the State CAN Chairman (Bishop John Ibenu), I led the crowd to the nearby Dunamis Church and while on our knees praying at the Church they came led by Prince Ishaq Okolo (SSA on Security of Dekina LGA who is currently vying for the local government chairmanship).
The hoodlums barged into the Church premises and started beating us while we were still on our knees in prayer. These fools (only fools disregard God, Church and Prayers) alleging that I was coordinating the prayer walk came hard on us the brother of the SSA then jacked me, tore my clothes, slapped and beat me with woods, cut my bishopric crucifix and told me Anyigba is not a Christian town. I answered that Jesus is Lord over the land and I received a second round of beatings by some folks following him.
They broke the windows of the Dunamis Church, entered in, stabbed a security of the Dunamis Church on his hand and destroyed several plastic chairs. They went away with Pst Silas and only released after a long while.
Bello said at a time the nation is facing unrest and disturbance, there is need for every religion organisation to intensify their faith by praying to God for His intervention in the affairs of the country, noting that any act capable of truncating peaceful religious gathering is “sacrilegious, repugnant and unacceptable”.
He emphasised the need for people to cohabit peacefully irrespective of their religious differences, noting that one of his achievements as Governor was the unification of the people across religious and ethnic divides, adding that his administration will not tolerate any act capable of causing disunity amongst the people of the state.
Bello stated that the protection of lives at any legitimate gathering is the responsibility of the security agencies and advised members of the public to be mindful of intruders while engaging in religious procession at this critical moment in the nation’s history.
According to the Governor, every act of brigandage and violence constitute an act of criminality that his government is fighting on all fronts, saying Government will not abdicate its all important function of ensuring security of all irrespective of religious or ethnic backgrounds.
He therefore, urged the people to go about their normal business as his administration will continue to ensure their safety.
