The Founder and Spiritual Head of Shafaudeen in Islam Worldwide, Prof. Sabit Ariyo Olagoke JP, has called the attention of governors in the South West region to the need to rise up to their task of securing the lives and properties of people and residents in the entire region.
The Islamic group said the call became imperative in view of Sunday’s invasion of the St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State, by suspected bandits, during which many unsuspecting worshippers were massacred.
Prof. Olagoke said the bandits were neither religious nor society-friendly but that they just hide under the umbrella of religion or political vendetta to perpetuate their deadly and nefarious acts; hence, there is a need to mend our fences.
Prof. Olagoke, in a statement he personally signed and made available to journalists, specifically asked the governors to tighten security in their domains through coordinated collaboration with neighbouring states, while adding that local security operators should be adequately empowered to face the challenges.
“A situation whereby everybody is coming from everywhere unhindered into this region is worrisome, while also blaming our porous borders as a major source of concern that our governors need to work on urgently.
‘It is high time our governors went after those who disguise themselves as Okada riders and commercial motor operators but are gun carriers and peddlers. “They are in our midst already, but with the governors’ resolve, they can be sent back to where they came from to be able to have effective control of the security,” the statement stated.
The Islamic cleric also commiserated with the Ondo State government and the families of the affected people of the state over the incident, praying to God to repose the souls of the unfortunate casualties and give the families they left behind the fortitude to bear the loss.
“The evil these strangers do in our midst is becoming too much to bear. Our leaders should, therefore, rise now to this challenge before they wipe everybody off,” the statement concluded.
