Benue Killings: Bishop Ezeokafor Challenges Security Agents to Apply Don Waney’s Measures on Culprits

The Catholic bishop of Awka Diocese, His Lordship Most Rev. Paulinus Ezeokafor has challenged the Nigeria security agents to apply similar measures used in unmasking those behind the killings of over twenty worshippers on the New Year’s Eve at Omoku, Rivers State in fishing out those behind the Benue massacre.

Bishop Ezeokafor who stated this during a Mass to mark the 2018 Armed Forces Remembrance Day at St. Patrick’s Catholic Cathedral, Awka, said the Benue’s case needed Operation Python Dance and Crocodile Smile put together, adding that deploying the officers and men of the Nigeria Police to the troubled State may not yield the desired result.

”Just check all those buried recently in Benue they are mainly Christians, check all the attacks you’ll discover that Christians are being killed in their numbers. Is this another form of carrying out a hidden agenda or are these killers on conquest mission?

”’The worst is that those behind the dastardly acts are yet to be made known. What are they waiting for. They said it was communal crisis why not name the communities involved. I saw trailer load of dead bodies going for the mass burial and I ask, why are they not using the Don Waney’s method?

‘ ‘Operation Python Dance was declared on the harmless IPOB protesters, many were gunned down for no just cause,’ Bishop Ezeokafor said.

Bishop Ezeokafor wondered why the Federal Government should even deployed the police to tackle such heinous act which he said left so many people dead, noting that he expected them to apply the same measure used in tackling southeast and south south even as he accused them of treating the Benue’s issue with kid gloves.

On the issue of grazing reserve and colony, Bishop Ezeokafor described it as a time bomb waiting to explode, emphasising that ranching remained the only true solution to the Fulani herdsmen and farmers clash.

The Catholic Prelate called for urgent renegotiation of Nigeria, noting that going by the current situation of things in the country, Nigeria deserved to be renegotiated even as he said the states should be allowed to take charge of her Mineral Resources to enable them to develop at their own pace.

On the Armed Rememberance Day Celebration, Bishop Ezeokafor exhorted all to use whatever they got to serve God and humanity, noting that the labour of the past heroes would not be vain.

Nkiru Nwagbo Awka