IGP Kayode Egbetokun
* Calls on IGP for probe
By John Egie
Youths of Eruku community in Ekiti LGA of Kwara State have accused the police of being complicit to the bandits attack of the Christ Apostolic Church on Tuesday night during which three worshippers were killed right in the church and over 35 worshippers abducted by the bandits
Speaking when the governor of Kwara State visited Eruku community yesterday for on-spot assessment of the attack, a youth leader of the community, Shola Peters said when the community youths mobilised to chase the attackers the police assisted the bandits to escape.
He described the performance of the police during the attack as total failure, declaring their presence in the community ineffective, useless and utterly unwanted henceforth.
“When we were pursuing the bandits, the police started shooting from their gate. We thought it was the bandits again. When we got to the station, they tear-gassed us and allowed the attackers to escape.
“These are the same police officers the town supported. We built houses for the DPO and the men. When we needed them most, they failed us. Instead of joining us to pursue the bandits, they stopped us.
“We call on the Inspector General of Police to probe the police in Eruku division. All they do here is to harass young boys and tag them as Yahoo boys or cultists.
“We need the Inspector General to come and probe the police. We don’t want them here again. Let the government give us guns, we can protect ourselves. The bandits carried AK-49 and machine guns but we confronted them with a dane gm and one pump action gun.”
Kwara State governor, Abdulraham Abdulrazaq also accused security agents, especially the police of worsening the security situation instead of assisting the community.
“We have soldiers around this place. We also have a police station , but nothing was done throughout the attack” the governor fumed and disclosed plans to establish a Forward Operating Base in Eruku.
Resident Pastor of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Lawrence Bamidele said the congregation was holding a Thanksgiving Service for 18 kidnapped residents freed last week when the bandits struck. The attack left in its trail, 3 dead and over 35 abducted.
Despite denial by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, HE, George Akume rejecting claims of Christain genocide ongoing in Nigeria, Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Ekiti LGA Coordinator, Pastor Kenneth Adigoke said the “Eruku CAC church attack by bandits justifies the claim”.
Credit: PUNCH
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