From Oluseye Ojo
President Bola Tinubu has been asked to take decisive action as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria to end the persistent killings and kidnappings in Benue, Plateau, and Taraba States, as well as other parts of the country.
The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) made the call on Tuesday in a statement issued by its President, Bishop Wale Oke.
According to him, the situation in Benue State, where scores of people have been massacred by bandits in recent times, is a national tragedy.
He enjoined the Federal Government to rise to the occasion with urgent and effective intervention. He added that the government must reclaim territories allegedly taken over by terrorists and restore them to their rightful indigenous owners.
Oke faulted the current security architecture and called for a comprehensive overhaul of it urgently.
His words: “The PFN sympathises with the governor and people of Benue State over the relentless killings. We are deeply concerned about the alarming state of insecurity in the nation, with Benue being a critical flashpoint that has suffered for too long.
“The current security system has failed us. Killings are taking place across the country, and the carnage has been relentless.
“What is happening in Benue is not a case of two parties fighting; it is an invasion by illegally armed bandits seeking to displace and dominate indigenous communities.”
Oke, who condemned the repeated attacks on Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps, described the invasions as ‘heinous acts’ against vulnerable citizens who should have been under state protection.
“This is not about Benue people killing themselves. These are external invaders committing atrocities. If any state deserves a declaration of emergency, it is Benue,” he added.
Oke acknowledged Tinubu’s recent directive for special security forces to move into Benue but said the action appeared belated and insufficient, given the scale of the crisis.
“It is not enough to visit as a ‘Mourner-in-Chief.’ The President must act with the full weight of his office and protect the lives and land of the Benue people. Treating this as internal conflict is misleading and dangerous,” he warned.
Oke urged the Federal Government to restore law and order across affected areas.
“The Federal Government owes Nigerians a duty to restore peace and security. We believe President Tinubu has the capacity to handle the situation if he acts boldly and decisively,” he stressed.
Oke, who called for credible, impartial leadership in the security sector, stated: “We cannot continue to ask the cat to watch over the meat. The time has come to place the right people in charge of protecting Nigerians.”