By Chidinma Ewunonu-Aluko, Ibadan
The Oyo State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has identified get-rich-quick syndrome as one of the causes of social vices such as ritual killings in the country.
The State Chairman of CAN, Apostle Joshua Akinyemiju, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Ibadan.
He was reacting to the rising cases of killings and other vices across the country.
He said that the socio-cultural dynamics characterised by heterogeneous population with an underlying ethno-religious tension was also causing division in the country.
According to him, economic factors such as: unemployment, high inflation and poverty drive insecurity across the country. He said that some youths had chosen to join criminal elements and militant groups for economic survival.
The Cable, an online publication , in its May 30 publication reported that at least 391 persons were killed by mobs across several states in Nigeria between 2019 and May 2022, quoting a report by SB Morgen (SBM) Intelligence.
The report examined the frequency of mob justice, also known as jungle justice, across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as well as the number of casualties from January 2019 to May2022.
According to the report, 391 persons were killed in 279 incidents in the period under review.
Akinyemiju noted that environmental factors caused by climate change had led to conflicts and an increased competition for scarce land resulting in land grabbing in parts of the country.
While emphasising that an idle hand remains the devil’s workshop, he urged the government to create more jobs, especially for the youth.
“There should be transparent and equitable distribution of resources among the various regions of the country.
“The laws of the country should be more stringent; he who kills by the sword should die by the sword without any waste of time.’
He said that the nation’s law enforcement and intelligence agencies should be better trained and equipped with appropriate weaponry to be able to combat banditry, kidnapping and other vices rearing their ugly heads.
He also implored the government to be sensitive to emerging insecurity trends around the nation’s borders and fortify them against likely foreign invaders.
He advised parents and guardians to monitor the activities of their children or wards more efficiently.
“ Churches should always advise their faithful to remain on the Lord’s side and do only those things that are acceptable to him,” he said.
Also, Pastor Francis Oghuma of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Jesus Place, Oluyole Ibadan, identified aggravated anger resulting from idleness, celebration of thieves and looters by the society as some of the causes of vices being experienced in recent times.
“The youth that see leaders go unpunished for gross misconduct will in turn engage themselves in violating the laws.’’
Oghuma also condemned the uncivilised attitudes of some politicians which he said had corrupted the hearts of many youths.
He said that some youths would always believe that they would get away with their barbaric habits because they could count on the support of unscrupulous politicians.
He advised the judiciary to be alive to its responsibility and bring sanity to the society through prompt administration of justice to those docked for prosecution.
He also listed poor upbringing due to bad parental mentoring, negligence, and those who indulge in ritual killings as parts of the menace facing the country.
He urged parents to return to godly parenting, mentoring, and not placing far reaching demands on their children still struggling to survive.
"The government must rise to the occasion by securing lives and property. It should embrace good checks on the influx of drug substances which are creating menace in our society.
"Youths must remember that ‘Karma’ is real, and that he who kills by the sword cannot escape same," he said.
Citing 1Corinthians 15: 33, Oghuma urged the church to hold fast the message of hope, holy living, contentment with sound doctrine, preaching messages of peace and eternal life, because 'the soul that sins it shall die.'
"We should return to the days of our fathers with love, neighbourhood security, integrity, contentment and believing in better tomorrow in a safe environment for developments.
"Choosing to be violence free and enabling a secure Nigeria begins with all and sundry," Oghuma said. (NAN)
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