A conglomeration of 15 churches in Northern Nigeria under the aegis of TarayarEkklisiyoyin Kristi A Nigeria (meaning, Fellowship of the Churches of Christ in Nigeria)– TEKAN – has expressed concern over the continued spate of banditry and insecurity in the country, saying “the government must sit up.”

According to the group of churches, Nigeria’s seeming current journey towards anarchy had become a serious indictment which the government must stop at all costs.

The President of TEKAN, Rev. Caleb Ahima, in an interview in Abuja said that TEKAN Fellowship in its Executive Council meeting held on May 9 had “expressed displeasure over the rising wave of criminality and bloodshed in the country, especially in the North East, North West, South East, South South, Middle Belt and North Central.”

He said: “The Legal Adviser of the Christian Reformed Church of Nigeria, L. O. Yabura; Principal Medical Officer of the General Hospital in Takum, Southern Taraba, Dr. Sunday Oduniyi; one Dr. SuleAudu and his two sons and several others have been in the hands of kidnappers in Taraba State for upward of two months now.

“TEKAN is concerned that this unfortunate development has reached an extent the even legislators are beginning to call Nigeria a failed state. TEKAN is strongly appealing to the Federal Government, the country’s House of Assembly, Service Chiefs, governors and all persons saddled with the constitutional responsibility of protecting lives and property of Nigerians to remember that life is sacred and its sanctity precious in the presence of God.

“Our national, regional, district and local leaders must remember that every nation is a reflection of its leaders and should know that our seeming current journey towards anarchy was a serious indictment which they must stop at all cost.

“Nigerians are not only disillusioned but seemed to have lost confidence in the government and ability of the country’s security outfits to protect them. It becomes pertinent to again sound the clarion call that government must sit up and seen to be on her toes in the bid to rescue the country from its descent to anarchy and collapse.”