Insecurity: Nigeria has never been as unsafe — Anglican Bishop

By MATTHEW KALU, Umuahia

The Anglican Bishop of Umuahia, Rt. Rev. Geoffrey Obijuru Ibeabuchi, has called on the federal government to expedite action in curbing the wave of terrorism fast spreading to every part of the nation, saying that the country has never been as unsafe as it is currently.

Rev. Ibeabuchi made the call while delivering his Presidential Address in the ongoing First Session of the 10th Synod of Umuahia Diocese holding at St. Mary’s Anglican Church, Ohokobe Ndume in Umuahia.

The clergyman said drastic actions needed to be taken to restore the confidence of fear-stricken Nigerians who are afraid that Nigeria of today was not the country of their dream.

The Bishop noted that within March and April this year, there have been terrorist attacks in Anambra, Ebonyi and Abia States; as well as Imo State where there was jail break in the Owerri Correctional Centre and burning down of the Police Headquarters, as well as other parts of the State.

In the 68-page Presidential address which lasted for over three hours Friday, Rev. Ibeabuchi decried the high level of insecurity pervading the country.

“Nigeria, our country, has never been as unsafe as it is today,” he began, adding that “today, it has become unsafe to travel on most of our major highways due to the activities of criminal elements ranging from bandits, kidnappers, armed robbers as well as Boko Haram terrorists.

“The entire nation appears to be under siege while our government seems helpless.

“Indeed, this is no longer the Nigeria of our dream. Students and school children are not safe. Farmers are no longer safe in their farmlands.

“Government officials are attacked on their convoy in the broad daylight.”

According to him, federal government “seems helpless and clueless, with utter confusion,” in handling matters concerning terrorists and bandits.

He appealed to all tiers of governments to urgently create jobs for the teaming youths as a way of addressing the phenomenal unemployment problem, “if the country must know peace.”

On Nigeria’s external debt burden, he appealed to governments at all levels “to stop increasing our debts” but to rather “start reducing them for the good of our future generation.”

“If there should be borrowing, let it be for investments that will yield dividend and not for consumption,” he advised.

Speaking on the theme of the Synod: “Let Us Rebuild And End This Reproach,” the Man of God enjoined Nigerians to join hands with the federal government to end terrorism and help in rebuilding the country and the Church.