The Southern Kaduna Christian Leaders Association (SKCLA) has expressed outrage and sadness over the abduction and killing of Reverend Father Sylvester Okechukwu, a priest of the Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan, by terrorists. The association has urged the government to take decisive action to end the wave of violence in the state.
Apostle Emmanuel Nuhu Kure, Chairman of SKCLA, condemned the killing, saying it is part of a troubling pattern of attacks on clergymen in Southern Kaduna. He recalled the abduction and brutal killing of Rev. Fr. John Mark Cheitnum in 2022 and the assassination of Pastor Musa Mairiga of ECWA Church.
The SKCLA chairman questioned whether the repeated assaults on men of God are a deliberate and systematic attack on Christians, particularly priests and pastors. He appealed to the federal and state security agencies to take drastic measures to check the violence before it undermines the hard-earned peace in the state.
Apostle Kure challenged the security agencies to rise to the occasion and put an end to the wave of violence. He emphasized that it is unacceptable for those who dedicate their lives to preaching peace and serving humanity to be hunted down without consequences for the perpetrators.
The SKCLA chairman urged Christians and residents of Southern Kaduna to be vigilant and security-conscious, reporting any suspicious movements or threats to law enforcement agencies without delay. He prayed for the soul of Rev. Fr. Sylvester Okechukwu to find eternal rest and called on authorities to ensure that justice is served.
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