Churches should be permitted to protect themselves against banditry — Ex-PFN president
Rev Felix Omobude
A former President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Rev. Felix Omobude, has said there is nothing wrong with churches and Christians seeking protection through appropriate and lawful channels during services and other activities.
Omobude, who spoke in an interview with journalists in Benin, Edo State on Sunday, said such measures have become necessary due to the deliberate targeting of Christians by terrorist groups for killings and abductions.
He warned that the situation would become chaotic and even more complicated if Christians resorted to bearing arms to defend themselves against criminals.
He added that if anyone had predicted the current level of insecurity 15 years ago, many Nigerians would not have believed it, noting that the worrisome reality has now unfolded.
Omobude also said there was nothing wrong with the Nigerian government seeking external assistance to combat terrorism and banditry.
He said, “There is nothing wrong in churches and Christians organising protection through appropriate channels during services and activities.
“It will be irresponsible for a leader at certain levels, for example, to call for the bearing of arms or to call for violence. Violence will give birth to more violence; we don’t have another nation.
“Our restraint is because we believe that a united Nigeria will be the best for us, and I hope that those in leadership do not take our restraint for weakness.
“The church, under the present situation, cannot call for arms unless we want the situation to deteriorate. We will continue to pray, advocate and educate our people appropriately.”
Omobude said Nigeria had already been infiltrated by foreigners, adding that arguments about external intervention undermining the country’s sovereignty were no longer tenable.
He explained that during his tenure as PFN President, he consistently advocated the creation of state police and commended President Bola Tinubu for embracing the idea.
He added, “As President of PFN for eight years, we advocated the formation of state police. I was happy to hear recently that the President has ordered that it be done. The centralisation of the policing system in this country is anti-development. Society has gone beyond that.
“When I was growing up, we had local government authority police. They had their duties — tax collection, environmental issues, and all the rest. So I don’t see any reason why we should not encourage state policing.
“I heard that the Americans want to come and help us. Some people say it violates our sovereignty. I don’t think that is correct.
“Our sovereignty has already been violated by insurgents who came from other countries and have taken over our territories. It is as if the military itself has been infiltrated. So I don’t see anything wrong with seeking external help.”
In recent months, insurgents have thrown the country into chaos, with several schoolchildren abducted and released after days in captivity. The terrorists have also taken control of several communities, particularly in the North, where they reportedly collect levies from residents.
Despite security operations and the killing of some of the criminals, the attackers continue to unleash violence, moving from one part of the country to another.
