Bishop Francis Wale Oke Condemns Killings in Edo State and Calls for Justice

Bishop Francis Wale Oke, the President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), has strongly condemned the recent killings in Edo State and other regions of Nigeria, emphasizing that all responsible parties must be held accountable.

In a statement reflecting on the tragic death of 16 travelers in Uromi, Edo State, allegedly at the hands of a vigilante group, Bishop Oke called for a fair and just response to the situation. He made these remarks during a press conference at Cornerstone City along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Ibadan on Thursday, as he urged immediate action to curb the rising tide of violence across the nation.

“PFN condemns the killings in Edo State, where innocent people were wrongly identified as kidnappers and attacked. We firmly denounce such violence. Every Nigerian deserves the right to travel safely throughout the country,” he stated.

The bishop urged Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo and Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf to collaborate in identifying and prosecuting those responsible, reiterating that every life is precious and must be safeguarded.

“I call on Governors Yusuf and Okpebholo to ensure that there are no retaliatory actions or escalation of violence. The harm has been done, and responding with further violence is not the solution,” he emphasized.

Bishop Wale Oke also extended his call for similar commitment to addressing killings in other states, including Benue, Plateau, Taraba, Ondo, Ekiti, and areas in the Southeast.

He highlighted the necessity of establishing state police to effectively combat insecurity, asserting that vigilante groups should not serve as the main source of security.

In closing, the PFN president expressed his appreciation for President Bola Tinubu’s leadership, providing birthday wishes and acknowledging his efforts in navigating the numerous challenges facing the country, including issues of security, economy, and education.

“The president has been doing commendably well despite the significant challenges he inherited. We appreciate his courage and pragmatic approach,” he concluded.