Ondo cleric decries insecurity, says govts fail to protect citizens

Samson Oluwamodede, General Overseer of the Prayer Centre Church of God in Akure, Ondo State, has asserted that Nigerian governments have failed in their duty to protect citizens. He called for prayer and divine intervention as the nation's last hope amidst worsening insecurity across the country.

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I cannot sit here silently and watch what is happening in Nigeria. There are killings everywhere, bloodshed, kidnappings and many disturbing developments.

Oluwamodede led hundreds of church members in a 'Prayer Walk Against Insecurity' through major streets of Akure on Sunday. Participants carried placards with messages such as 'Stop Terrorism, Save Our Children,' 'Let There Be Peace in Nigeria,' and 'End Banditry in Nigeria.' The three-hour event underscored the church's refusal to remain silent in the face of escalating violence.

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The federal government has tried its best. State governments, the police tried, and even the soldiers tried, but they failed.

The cleric lamented the pervasive killings, bloodshed, and kidnappings, citing recent abductions of schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo and Borno states as evidence of the severe security crisis. "There are situations that, if not addressed quickly, can escalate beyond control," he stated, explaining the motivation behind the prayer walk.

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But I believe that if the government has failed, God will not fail us.

While acknowledging the efforts of federal and state governments, the police, and soldiers, Oluwamodede declared their ultimate failure. "But I believe that if the government has failed, God will not fail us," he said. He expressed doubt about governments' willingness or accessibility to hear the truth but maintained hope in divine assistance. The cleric also noted that insecurity is no longer confined to specific regions, pointing to growing threats in the South-West, which was once considered relatively peaceful.

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There is no doubt that there is insecurity in the South-West and Nigeria as a whole. The government did the little they could; traditional rulers also did their best, but they all failed. They failed woefully.