Our forests have been taken over by terrorists – Akeredolu
Terrorism and kidnapping are fast becoming the worst menace Nigeria is dealing with as there appear to be no end in sight.
As a result, the Ondo State governor Rotimi Akeredolu has raised the alarm that forests across the country had been taken over by terrorists now terrorising Nigerians.
Akeredolu spoke on a day President Muhammadu Buhari directed increased kinetic and non-kinetic efforts to trace and bring back the 51 or more kidnapped railway passengers still being held by terrorists.
This is even as families of the kidnapped victims yesterday, for the second time in a week, raised alarm that the freed victims were mentally unstable, sick, traumatized and hospitalized.
The mediator between the Federal Government and the terrorists holding on to the train kidnapped victims, Tukur Mamu, had on Monday raised alarm that the remaining 51 victims who had become very sick and might die, if the government failed to act fast.
Mamu is spokesman of popular Islamic cleric, Sheikh Abubakar Gumi.
Akeredolu, who spoke while receiving members of the Council of All Saints Church, Jericho, Ibadan, who came on a condolence visit, called for international assistance to combat terrorism.
The team was led by chairman of Council, Dr Onnuola Adewunmi.
The governor said: “We have terrorists in Nigeria. We need the world to assist Nigeria.
“If Nigeria doesn’t want it, Ondo State wants it. They still attacked somewhere in Ogun State recently. There are terrorists lurking in our forests.”
The governor, who also canvassed that Nigerians be trained on basic civil-defence, reiterated that the people must be prepared for any eventuality.
He also called on churches to install CCTV as part of the security measures to prevent a recurrence of Owo terror attack.
While thanking members of the church for the condolence visit, Akeredolu said: “I belong to a church that I am very proud of. And that church deemed it fit at this time in our state to pay a condolence visit.”
Earlier, the chairman of Council, Dr Adewunmi, who commiserated with the governor and the people of the state over Owo massacre, assured that the church would intensify prayers for the state.
Adewunmi said: “You could trust that your church has always been praying for you.“You could trust that your church has always supported you in prayers on numerous occasions.
“This one really overwhelmed us, that such a heinous crime could be committed in our land.”
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