The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Rivers State Chapter has condemned in its entirety the bombing of a Pentecostal Church situated at No. 25 Azikiwe Street, Diobu Port-Harcourt, known as Christian Universal Church Inc. and said to belong to the father of the Rivers State Governor, Rev. (Dr.) Joshua Wike.
Speaking with newsmen shortly after inspecting the damages done by the attackers, the Rivers CAN Chairman, Most Special Apostle Stanley Dimkpa said it was unfortunate that even Christians could agree to be drafted to harm the Church of God and its members. He however thanked God that inspite of the enormous damages recorded, no life was lost.
In his words, “I, Apostle Stanley Dimkpa CAN chairman, on behalf of the CAN Executive Committee and the entire Christian Community in Rivers State, strongly condemn this evil act of detonation of explosives in the Christian Universal Church Inc. Infact, this is the greatest height of wickedness and a satanic war targeted against destroying the Church of God and demoralizing worshippers from going to Church in the State that has been unequivocally declared as 100% Christian State by the Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike”, he said. The Chairman used the opportunity to commend the action of the Community vigilante group who by their skills have justified the public outcry for regional and community policing to fight and arrest criminality and insecurity in the State. He also urged the Commissioner of Police to go after the sponsors of this act.
The CAN Chairman equally used the opportunity to condemn the killing of 43 rice farmers in Zabarmari, Borno State by Boko Haram terrorists, saying that is barbaric and ungodly as life is sacred. “Injury to one Nigerian is injury to all”.
CAN said it mourns with the families that lost their loved ones and pray that their souls rest in peace.
CAN asked to nobody in particular, what the military intervention is doing in the crisis ridden area. “We say that the military chiefs that are fighting insurgence has failed Nigerians and should therefore resign even as we appreciate the pro-activeness of President Muhammadu Buhari for giving the military a marching order to take the fight to the insurgents”, he said.
The Christian body also advised President Buhari to quickly reaccess the security situation in the North East and seek for other appropriate intervention method to perpetually end the insurgence in the country.
Meanwhile, the Diobu Security Services (DSS) Public Relation Officer, Mr. Charles Chinedu Ogueri, has appealed for the Government at all levels to encourage them to do their job better through whatever means but should include granting them permission to carry licensed fire arms, adding that everybody knows how awkward it is for one to confront criminals who are armed with an AK47 with a mere cutlass.
On how they managed to achieve these recorded successes with a mere cutlass, the PRO said his members actually apply common sense in dealing with the criminals and other professional strategies. He narrated how they were able to apprehend the attackers, “we actually heard a loud noise coming from the Mile 3 Diobu axis of the city around midnight on Saturday November 28, 2020. We were all alert and within seconds, we radioed round our formations and discovered almost immediately were the sound was coming from.”
Mr. Ogueri further explained that by the time some of them raced down to the scene, the community youths who were also security conscious, had helped in apprehending three of the suspects while two of them escaped. He said the criminals had underestimated the DSS strength who operates with cutlasses, “they came normally like every other worshipper into the Church and later brought out their face masks and concealed pistols shooting sporadically to scare the people before striking. They then tried to escape by scaling the fence as they shot their way out; but unknown to them that the vigilante members had already mobilized to the area and blocked all their escape routes.” He further disclosed beaming with satisfaction. The PRO said they are ready, able and willing to sacrifice more in the job of securing life and property if encouraged.
