The Lead Bishop of the Worldwide Anglican Church (WAC) in Nigeria, Bishop Seun Adeoye, has passionately denounced the recent Christmas day killings in Plateau State and issued a powerful call to action.
In his poignant New Year Message titled “Never Fold Your Arms Again,” released in Osogbo on Sunday, Bishop Adeoye expressed deep concern over the tragic events where people were mercilessly slaughtered in their homeland while security agencies appeared to be absent.
Bishop Adeoye, also the General Overseer of Sufficient Grace and Truth Ministries and the Spokesman of the World Bishops’ Council (WBC) in Africa, urged Plateau indigenes to defend themselves against what he termed as agents of Satan.
In a resounding plea, he stated, “Never fold your arms and allow agents of Satan to destroy you, your wives, and your children. Please rise up and fight back against these murderers.”
Drawing attention to the persistent violence in Plateau State, similar to incidents in Benue and Kaduna states, Bishop Adeoye questioned the prolonged nature of these occurrences. He challenged the people, saying, “If these dastardly acts cannot be nipped in the bud by security agencies and if the government has failed in its duty to protect the victims, what then do you expect the people to do?”
Asserting the right to live, Bishop Adeoye emphasized that self-defense is not an offense, both in the Nigerian constitution and the Bible. He pointed out the government’s duty to protect lives and property, criticizing the perceived failures and shortcomings in addressing the security challenges.
With a sense of urgency, Bishop Adeoye concluded, “This situation is sad and shameful,” highlighting the need for a collective response to safeguard communities and ensure a secure future for the people.
