PFN Wants FG to Arrest, Prosecute Arms-carrying Herdsmen

Bassey Inyang in Calabar
The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Cross River State chapter, has asked the Inspector General of Police (IG) to urgently arrest and prosecute all gun-carrying Fulani herdsmen in the interest of the nation.

The PFN said it was making the call because the carrying of arms without licence is illegal and therefore, violates the laws governing the possession of firearms.

A communiqué signed by the Chairman, Rev. Lawrence Ekwok and Secretary, Frank Umo, and three others, issued in Calabar yesterday, condemned in strong terms, the attack and killing of people in the middle belt and southern parts of Nigeria by the Fulani herdsmen.

The 11-point communiqué read as follows: “We call on the federal government to as a matter of urgency ensure the arrest and immediate prosecution of the perpetrators of these heinous crimes.

“PFN in Cross River calls on the various legislatures to enact legislations against free movement of destructive animals such as cows in their states.

“The Cross River State House of Assembly should enact a bill prohibiting any portion of the Cross River State land to be forcefully taken or otherwise for the purpose of grazing cattle as it will attract negative consequences on the economy and lives of Cross Riverians.

“The Cross River State PFN calls on all members of the National Assembly in the state to resist the National Grazing Reserve Bill in view of its negative economic consequences on the indigenes of the state, and on our already fragile pressure on our land.

“The Cross River State PFN strongly condemns and opposes the proposed Executive Bill by Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State designed to restrict all forms of preaching in the state. Such a Religious Regulation Bill is contrary to the provisions of Section 38 of the 1999 Constitution.

“PFN CRS condemns in very strong terms the new trend of Muslims abducting Christian girls and forcing them into marriage and conversion into Islam.
“PFN CRS rejects plans by the Federal Government of Nigeria to fund the 2016 budget deficit from an “Islamic Compliant” loan.

“PFN CRS condemns the decision of the Kano State governor to use Sunday for sanitation in the state. This is a deliberate poly to hinder Sunday worship by Christians in the state.
“The Cross River State PFN opposes the alteration of the school curriculum of Nigerian schools with the intention to exclude the teaching of Christian Religious Knowledge in schools.

“It is our hope and prayer that all stakeholders of our country will work for the common good, well-being and continued unity of Nigeria.”