Executive Secretary Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission, Rev Dr Yakubu Pam has urged the Federal Government and State Governments to step up action on security.
Rev Pam made this known during a fact finding visit to Saint Raphael Catholic Church in Fadan kamantan, Zango Kataf Local government Area of Kaduna where the residence of the Parish Priest was burnt down and the Seminarian killed by suspected bandits and kidnappers on September 7, 2023.
He urged both the Federal and State Governments to come up with solutions that would address the precarious security situations in the country.
According to the NCPC boss, who is also the founder of the Southern Kaduna Peace Joint Committee (SKPJC), “anybody that comes here will know that it took only a miracle for the Parish Priest of the Catholic church to be alive today “.
He reiterated that Rev Fr. Emmanuel Okolo, the Parish Priest of Saint Raphael Catholic Church, Fadan kamantan did emphasize that what happened on the fateful day in the church was a case of banditry and kidnapping, stating that it had no religious coloration.
The NCPC boss thanked His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Uba Sani for creating the enabling environment for peace to reign in the state.
He equally thanked President Bola TInubu for giving him the approval to continue in his peace advocacy assignment across the country. He further thanked Mr President for his support to the Commission.
He affirmed that time had come to support humanity so that the people could live in relative peace. He called on well meaning Nigerians to come to the aid of Saint Raphael’s Catholic Church, Fadan Kamantan so that the residence of the Parish Priest would be rebuilt and other emergency needs of the Parish would be addressed.
Earlier, the Parish Priest of Saint Raphael’s Catholic Church Fadan Kamantan, Very Rev Fr Emmanuel Okolo, briefed the NCPC boss on what transpired on the ill fated day.
He explained that the attackers had made efforts in the past to kidnap him, but were not successful.
He regretted the fact that the late Seminarian, Na’aman Stephen who took refuge in the toilet was killed in cold blood and the Parish residence was burnt ,but he and his assistant managed to escape miraculously.
He called on the government to beef up security in the area in order to forestall a repeat of the dastardly act perpetrated by bandits and kidnappers.
Also, the NCPC boss earlier paid a courtesy visit to the palace of the paramount ruler of Fadan kamantan, HRM Adamu Alkali whom he described as the “chief mourner.”
He was informed that the government of the state was pleased with the role the ten man peace committee had been playing in Southern Kaduna.
He cautioned youths in seethe community not to take the laws into their hands because of what happened on September 7, 2023.
He affirmed that the two dominant religion in Southern Kaduna tolerated themselves and were living peacefully with one another. He explained that the Southern Kaduna Peace Joint Committee members, SKPJC were working together with Muslims and Christians.
Furthermore, the Executive Secretary’s fact finding team were at the Central Mosque at Fadan kamantan where they met with the leadership of the Moslem community in the Mosque.
He thanked them for their show of love and solidarity which they demonstrated during the attack at Saint Raphael’s parish
He urged them to continue to imbibe the spirit of inter- faith harmony so that together they would be able to overcome the forces of evil in their community.
