Civil rights Advocacy group, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), has condemned in strong terms the reported attack and the killing of two worshippers by terrorists at a celestial Church of Christ (CCC) at the Falele area of Lokoja the Kogi State capital.
Regretting that Kogi State is becoming a hotbed of terrorists actions targeting Christians, HURIWA said the state government has done nothing significant to deal decisively with such dastardly criminal acts of terrorism targeting a significant percentage of her citizens who are Christians.
HURIWA expressed sadness at the terror attack and condemned the recent coordinated arson attack targeting the complex of the Kogi State House of Assembly even as the rights group has urged the Kogi State Governor, Mr. Yahaya Bello, to do less of meaningless gallivanting, unprofitable politics and engaging in unproductive fisticuffs literally with the world’s richest black investor Alhaji Aliko Dangote over ownership of Obajana cements and stay back in Lokoja, Kogi State capital, devise and implement far reaching panacea of the ugly scenarios in his state. HURIWA says combating terrorists is not a rocket science but can only be achieved by a determined credible political leader with zero agenda for self aggrandizement and ego trips. “We urge Yahaya Bello a very young politician to concentrate on governance and forget about unnecessary politics and weaving of unproductive political plots with zero utilitarian value to the good people of Kogi State. Kogi must never be allowed to become the transit camps of vampire terrorists affiliated to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria OR ISLAMIC STATE’S WEST AFRICAN PROVIJCE ISWAP”.
Condemning the spate of attacks on Churches in Kogi State masterminded by suspected armed ISWAP terrorists, HURIWA has asked the Kogi State government to put measures in place to stamp out the emerging attacks of Christian places of worship even as the Rights group lamented that for the past seven years the State governor failed to provide effective information technology tools and good and effective crime prevention strategy to check the incessant terror attacks.
HURIWA recalled that two Christians were reportedly killed by gunmen who attacked a Celestial Church of Christ (CCC) located at the Felele axis of Lokoja, Kogi State capital. The gunmen attacked the church on Sunday evening.
HURIWA recalled that it was gathered that the gunmen started shooting sporadically when they invaded the church premises. Many worshippers who were present in the church scampered for safety during the incident.
HURIWA stated that the victims were taken to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Lokoja for treatment just as confirming the incident on Monday, William Aya, Kogi police spokesperson, said the police division in Falele received the report of the shooting around 7pm. Aya disclosed that Edward Egbuka, Kogi police spokesperson, has ordered an investigation into the circumstances that led to the incident. “The incident happened. Two people have been confirmed dead, three people are currently treatment,” the Kogi police spokesperson said.
HURIWA in a statement by the national Coordinator Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko recalled that since last year and In recent times, Kogi has witnessed a spate of violent attacks perpetrated by gunmen on religious institutions, police stations and other public places.
In August 2021, three members of the Living Faith Church Worldwide located in Osara community, Adavi LGA were kidnapped by gunmen inside the church premises.
In September 2021, gunmen killed a member of Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) and abducted two others during an attack on the church located along Kabba-Okene road.
The rights group blamed poor governance standards on the part of the Kogi State government for the unprecedented rise in systematic terror attacks on Christians. “We call on the Kogi State governor to stop playing with the crucial issue of security and settle down to the arduous task of delivering his most primary duty to the good people of Kogi State which is to protect the lives and property of the citizens.