Oyo abductions: Move beyond rhetoric, act now – CAN tells govt

Following the worsening security situation across the country, the South-West Zone of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has called on the Federal Government to immediately declare a state of emergency on security and adopt urgent measures to stem the rising tide of kidnappings, banditry, and violent crimes.

The Chairman of CAN South-West, Bishop Dr. Barnabas Tunde Akin-Akinsanya, in a statement on Sunday, described the growing wave of abductions and attacks in states such as Oyo, Ekiti, Ondo, and Lagos as a serious threat to national peace, economic development, and social stability. He called for a proactive approach to curb the “ugly situation.”

The Christian body noted: “Incidents of kidnapping and other violent crimes, once considered isolated cases, have now become a recurring national challenge that continues to instill fear and uncertainty among citizens.”

While expressing sympathy with victims and their families, CAN condemned in strong terms the activities of kidnappers, bandits, and other criminal elements terrorising communities across the country.

The association also offered prayers for the safe release of those still in captivity and comfort for families who have lost loved ones to criminal attacks. It urged governments at all levels to move beyond verbal assurances and take concrete, decisive actions to address the nation’s security challenges.

CAN believes that extraordinary times require extraordinary responses, emphasizing on the need to deploy modern security technologies, enhance intelligence gathering, and improve coordination among security agencies.

It stated that the time has come for governments at all levels to move beyond rhetoric and adopt extraordinary measures to confront this national emergency. The association called on the Federal Government to strengthen the country’s security architecture by equipping security agencies with modern surveillance equipment, drones, advanced communication gadgets, intelligence systems, and rapid-response capabilities needed to combat criminal networks.

The association insisted that the deteriorating security situation warrants the declaration of a security emergency to coordinate an aggressive response against criminal elements, noting the increasingly sophisticated operations of criminal gangs.

CAN further advised the Federal Government to seek technical and intelligence support from friendly nations and international security partners where necessary, arguing that national security should take precedence over political considerations, bureaucratic bottlenecks, or concerns about national pride.

The association maintained that every legitimate avenue capable of restoring peace and security to the nation should be explored. It also renewed its support for the establishment of state police, urging the Federal Government and relevant stakeholders to accelerate efforts towards decentralising policing in the country.

According to CAN, state policing has become imperative given the unique security challenges facing different regions of the country. The association noted the vulnerability of forests, highways, farmlands, and border communities across the South-West, saying that criminal elements are increasingly exploiting these areas as operational bases.

The association called on governors in the region to strengthen inter-state security collaboration, improve intelligence sharing, and provide greater support for existing regional security outfits. It also advocated increased investment in community-based intelligence gathering and surveillance systems to detect and prevent criminal activities before they occur.