President, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Bishop Wale Oke, has demanded justice for the 16 travellers that were slain in Uromi, Edo State, a week ago, and other victims of brutal attacks across the country.
The body described the killing of the16 travellers in Uromi as a national crisis that demands immediate government action.
Speaking to journalists at Cornerstone City on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, he demanded accountability for violence, justice for victims, and the establishment of state police as essential for restoring peace.
The nation was rocked by the tragic deaths of 16 travelers in Uromi last week Thursday, who were brutally slain by members of a vigilante group under the mistaken belief that they were kidnappers.
“We categorically condemn these killings,” Bishop Oke declared. “Every Nigerian should be able to move freely anywhere in the nation. Lives are sacred, and it is critical that those responsible are brought to justice.”
Oke urged Governors Monday Okpebholo of Edo State, and Abba Yusuf of Kano State to work together to identify and punish the perpetrators, stressing the need for a unified response to prevent further bloodshed.
“We must avoid reprisal attacks; two wrongs do not make a right,” he added, calling for wisdom and restraint from leaders to ensure that the cycle of violence does not escalate.
Oke pointed out that the same urgency to address the killings in Edo must be extended to other states grappling with violence, including Benue, Plateau, Taraba, Ondo, Ekiti, and even the South East.
“The same fervor with which the killing in Edo State was condemned must be applied nationwide. We cannot afford to be selective in our outrage,” he stated.
The PFN president also renewed his advocacy for the establishment of state police, saying: “Vigilantes should not be the primary source of security; we need a structured and accountable police force that is closer to the communities it serves.”
He raised concerns over vigilante groups operating with impunity, which has led to tragic incidents, like the one in Uromi.
