Jos killings: Protect lives or step aside, PFN tells FG

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Wale Oke

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By Luminous Jannamike

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The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) has condemned the latest killings in Jos, Plateau State, urging the Federal Government to act swiftly and warning that those responsible for protecting lives should step aside if they cannot do the job.

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The outrage from one of Nigeria’s most influential Christian bodies highlights a growing national frustration: communities are repeatedly attacked, lives are lost, and yet justice remains distant.

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According to PFN, the issue is no longer just about security, it is about whether the government is meeting its most basic responsibility to its people.

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The position was contained in a statement by Dr Sylvannus Ukafia, National Publicity Secretary of PFN, who spoke on behalf of the organisation.

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“We extend our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families who have lost their loved ones in this tragic and senseless attack. No words can adequately express the sorrow that accompanies the loss of life in such brutal circumstances.

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“It is deeply troubling that massacre after massacre occurs while the Nigerian public rarely hears of the arrest, prosecution, and punishment of those responsible for previous atrocities. Justice delayed indefinitely is justice denied entirely.

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“Government must remember that the first obligation in the social contract between the state and its citizens is the protection of lives and property. When citizens are slaughtered in their homes, in their communities, and sometimes even in places of worship, that contract is severely strained.

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“Such tragic events must never be trivialized, ignored, or politicized. Human life is sacred, and the blood of innocent Nigerians must not become a routine headline in our national life.

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“If those charged with safeguarding the people are unable to provide security, honour demands that they step aside. Every official in a position to prevent or curtail insecurity must accept responsibility when citizens perish under their watch,” PFN said.

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Amid the grief, the group urged Christians across the country to remain prayerful and hold on to their faith.

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“Though our path as a people may seem dark as night at the moment, we must remember that God remains the light that no darkness can overcome.

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“Nigeria must not surrender to the normalization of bloodshed. The sanctity of life must once again become the foundation of our national conscience,” PFN said.

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