Anglican Primate Deplores Killing Of Soldiers

Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, the Most Reverend Henry Ndukuba, has condemned the killing of soldiers by some Nigerians across the country, saying that those attacking the Armed Forces of Nigeria are ignorantly attacking the nation.

Ndukuba said recent development on the killing of military personnel in some communities is a subtle way of destroying the nation’s defence architecture.

The primate who made this known yesterday during his Episcopal visit to Maitama and Mpape Missionary Archdeaconries at St. Matthew’s Anglican Church in Abuja said that there may be agitations in some quarters against authorities, and called for patience from Nigerians.

He also advised the government to uphold fairness, purity, justice, and equity in dealing with every Nigerian, suggesting that dialogues can go a long way in solving many of the country’s issues.

The primate also appealed to the government to consider how some dissident groups are continually recruiting Nigerians into their folds, saying it leaves much to be desired.

“Attack on the military is like an attack on cancer of the cells of the body. When cancer attacks the cells of the body, it renders them powerless and ultimately kills the body. It will be invoking calamity upon our nation for us to attack the agency that is protecting the lives and security of this nation.

“We want to plead with people; we know that many of us are agitated, many of us are hurting, many of us are challenged, and many of us are not happy about what is happening. But we want to plead with every section to be patient, and where it will lead, let us engage in dialogue.

“Those in leadership should do justice because, without justice, there will be no peace. Often, we give and take, and I think that one of the things that the late Yar’Adua did in this nation which will ever stand, him taking steps to dialogue with those people who were already criminalised and to bend backwards,” he said.

According to the primate, today, those young men and women are already engaged in the nation’s mainstream, and where there is a need for punitive measures, let it be done and where there is a need for justice in court, let it be done and fair.

“Where we need to consider people in need, we should do that. Sometimes, we must ask ourselves why these people are able to recruit people continuously and why these people can influence people’s mindsets.

“Such questions must be looked into and be answered, not by public opinions, but by people who will lock themselves up and give time to labour,” he said.

Ndukuba further said that God is still in the business of raising people, which He will use to accomplish His purpose, especially given the Nigerians’ situation in the nation.