Insecurity: Nigeria at crossroad- PFN
Leadership of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN, has questioned the readiness of security agents to defend and protect the lives and property of citizens, saying most Nigerians now live in perpetual fear as a result of the increasing state of insecurity in the country.
In a statement yesterday, PFN said security agents have little or no resistance to kidnappers on the prowl, abducting their victims at will and demanding various sums of ransom.
Sometimes, these victims are not lucky as many of them get hurt or killed in the process while some disappear without trace. A recent case is that of the pastors of Christ the Light Ministry of Nigeria who were kidnapped by unknown gunmen in June 2007 while on evangelism to higher institutions in Abraka, Delta State.
Among the 15 pastors abducted are popular radio evangelists; Rikefe Ononefe of Christ the Light Ministry of Nigeria, Evangelist Inu Umoru from Auchi and Pastor Mike Itapemi, an outspoken man of God from Living Spring Church whose ministry hinges on the transformation of youths across the religious divide.
Pastor Itapemi and others were purportedly taken away by their abductors to an unknown destination and it is believed that they are still being held hostage as no information has emerged on their whereabouts.
Unconfirmed sources, however, said that the leadership of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria are trying to negotiate their release as it is suspected that a ransom might be involved.
The sources noted that it is doubtful if the security agents established any contact with the abductors and there is palpable fear amongst the Christian body about the safety of the pastors as most men of God who were allegedly abducted by these kidnappers and religious fundamentalists are often maimed and in many cases, killed when they refuse to denounce their faith.
When contacted, the force headquarters and their security agents could not confirm any reported arrests so far and did not explain if any of the missing persons have been found.
