The Methodist Church of Nigeria, Synod of Diocese of Atamunu, has urged the Federal Government to take immediate and decisive steps to enhance the effectiveness of police personnel in addressing the disturbing surge in ritual killings and widespread insecurity across the country.
The Synod called on all levels of government to deploy state apparatus to halt the continuous shedding of innocent blood through brutal killings, vandalism, and the looting of national assets.
Expressing deep concern, the Synod lamented what it described as a return to paganism and the increasing sacrifices of innocent citizens by individuals driven by the lust for wealth through diabolical means.
Chairman of the 3rd Annual Synod of the Methodist Church of Nigeria, Synod Diocese of Atamunu, Calabar, Rt. Rev. Otuekong Ukut, Ph.D., made the call in Calabar while commenting on the nation’s deteriorating security situation.
He condemned the spate of killings for money rituals, describing it as the tragic outcome of a misguided belief that wealth and riches could be obtained through human sacrifice, organ harvesting, and trafficking. “Innocent persons have been murdered and sacrificed for money ritual purposes to wicked gods,” he decried.
In a 10-point communiqué signed by Rt. Rev. Otuekong Ukut, Synod Secretary Very Rev. Anthony Essien, and Lay President Sir Dr. Gabriel Inyang, the Synod called for urgent enhancement of law enforcement capabilities to aid in the investigation and prosecution of ritual killers.
They challenged the Nigeria Police to intensify personnel training and focus on intelligence gathering to dismantle ritualistic crime networks. “There is an urgent need to improve the knowledge of personnel and concentrate more on intelligence,” the Synod emphasized.
The Synod also appealed to President Bola Tinubu to tackle root causes by implementing policies that alleviate poverty and inequality, while creating safety nets for the vulnerable.
Furthermore, the Church called on Christians to intensify prayers, remain vigilant, and deepen evangelism efforts to rescue souls from the grip of evil. “The Church must wake up in prayer and be more evangelical,” it stated.
Other concerns raised by the Synod include the state of inter-religious relations, ecclesiastical autonomy, national restructuring, judicial reform, the economic situation, the state of Cross River, and the urgent rehabilitation of the Calabar-Itu Road.
