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We’ll Arrest Killers of Catholic Priests, Kidnappers of Five Redeemed Pastors, Says IGP
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, has deployed detectives from the Force Headquarters in Abuja to hunt for the killers of Paul Offu, a Catholic priest in Enugu State, an official said.
Mr Adamu also ordered intensive operations to free five Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) pastors kidnapped on Friday.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, in a statement on Friday, said the IGP had ordered massive manhunt for the killers of the priest.
The priest, who was shot dead on August 1 by unknown gunmen, was in charge of St. James the Greater Parish Catholic Church, Ugbawka, Enugu state.
“Crack detectives from the IGP-Intelligence Response Unit (IRT), the Forensic and Homicide sections of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) have been deployed to Enugu State.
“The deployment is to complement the Enugu Command of the Force in their investigations into the unfortunate incident.
”In addition, the AIG in charge of Zone 9 Headquarters has been directed to mobilize more units of Police Mobile Force (PMF) personnel to black spots in Enugu State,” he said.
The killing of the priest has been condemned by many Nigerians including the Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi. On Friday, Mr Ugwuanyi held an emergency security council meeting in the state over the matter.
Briefing journalists on the outcome of the meeting, the Enugu State Commissioner of Police, Suleiman Balarabe, stated that they “condemned in totality the dastardly act and we all prayed that his soul rest in peace.” He said the governor mandated the security agencies to fish out the perpetrators of the heinous act.
Mr Balarabe disclosed that the state government resolved to have air surveillance in all the flashpoint areas, stressing that the exercise will commence on Monday, August 5.
The police commissioner added that the meeting resolved that the security architecture of the affected areas will be reviewed with immediate effect.
Speaking on the kidnapped RCCG pastors, Mr Mba said the police have intensified operations for their rescue.
The names of the clerics are yet to be released but the RCCG General Overseer, Enoch Adeboye, confirmed the kidnap to members at the camp.
The Redeemed Church is arguably Nigeria’s largest pentecostal church with millions of members across the world.
Nigeria’s vice president, Yemi Osinbajo, is also a pastor of the church.
According to Mr Mba, tactical and operational assets of the police have been deployed with the Commissioner of Police, Ogun State Command, taking the lead-role in the search and rescue operations.
He said the IGP, while condemning the killing of the Catholic priest and the abduction of the clergymen, called for calm and assured that the perpetrators would not go unpunished.
Mr Mba said the police chief urged the public to avail the police with credible information that would assist in apprehending the criminals.
The murder of the priest and the kidnap of the RCCG pastors add to the worsening security situation across Nigeria.
Scores of people are killed and kidnapped across the country weekly.
Last week, police chief Adamu held a meeting with top police officers across the country to discuss the security situation.
President Buhari has also charged the police and other security agencies to ensure the protection of lives and property.
Premium Times
The National Security Adviser (NSA), Malam Nuhu Ribadu, on Monday, held a crucial meeting with service chiefs and heads of security and intelligence agencies in the country
The crucial meeting took place at the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), Abuja, followed reports of a directive by the President of United States, Donald Trump to prepare for possible military action in Nigeria over the alleged genocide of Christians in the country.
Security sources hinted that the emergency meeting, which began in the afternoon was aimed at assessing the implications of Trump’s statement accusing the Nigerian government of failing to protect Christians from Islamist militant groups.
Trump’s remarks, made late Saturday, stated that the U.S. military was being prepared to “act in Nigeria to tackle Islamist militancy” a statement that had triggered widespread concern across diplomatic and security circles in Abuja.
Reports said that the NSA convened the session to coordinate a unified national security response and review intelligence assessments on the potential fallout of the U.S. president’s pronouncement.
The outcome of the meeting is expected to be communicated through official channels from the Office of the National Security Adviser.
The National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (NWC) has suspended the National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade; National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu; Deputy Legal Adviser, Okechukwu Osuoha; and National Organizing Secretary, Umaru Bature for one month.
The suspension comes on the heels of the judgement of the Federal High Court On Friday, which stopped the party’s planned national convention.
The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Debo Ologunagba, told journalists in Abuja on Saturday, that the decision followed an emergency meeting of the national working committee, which was held in Abuja.
President Donald Trump of the United States on Friday designated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC), in response to allegations of widespread persecution and genocide against Christians.
Writing on his Truth Social account, Trump stated that Christianity faces a serious threat in Nigeria.
The US leader also added Nigeria to a State Department watch list.
“Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria. Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter,” Trump wrote.
According to the US president, he was placing Nigeria, Africa’s top oil producer and most populous nation, on a “Countries of Particular Concern” list of nations the US deems to have engaged in religious freedom violations.
According to the State Department’s website, the list includes China, Myanmar, North Korea, Russia, and Pakistan, among others.
Trump said he had asked US Representatives Riley Moore and Tom Cole, as well as the House of Representatives Appropriations Committee, to look into the matter and report back to him.
