By John Odunjo
The Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) has condemned the ritual murder of young girls who are enticed with money with other material things and as well abuse of illicit and unprescribed drugs
NIREC also bemoaned the fraudulent practices by ‘Yahoo boys and girls’ which have diverted many youths from profitable use of their talents and resources.
NIREC Ekiti State Chairman and Bishop of Ekiti Catholic Diocese, Most Rev. Femi Ajakaye and Co-chairman and Chief Imam, Alhaj Jamiu Kewulere, urged parents and guardians to “educate daughters and wards on the dangers of making ‘quick money’”.
NIREC also canvassed the need to put an end to the perversion of justice by some misguided law-enforcement agents who collude with ‘Yahoo boys and girls’ and other criminals to escape justice.
The Council spoke in a communique at the end of its Third Quarter meeting in Ado Ekiti where it deliberated on the issues relating to the inter-religious peaceful co-existence and general well-being in Ekiti State.
The Council condemned failure of some parents and guardians to make their children and girls register in schools, saying, “This is a form of child abuse which is against the law in Ekiti State”.
The Council, while lauding the state government efforts to ensure peace and security and as well the success being recorded by the law-enforcement agencies to apprehend criminals and bring them to justice, urged them not to rest on their oars in bringing criminal activities to an end.
NIREC urged the state government “to accelerate the prosecution of the people arrested for committing organized crimes some of who have been paraded by the police without having been taken to court.
“Timely prosecution and punishment of culprits will motivate citizens to show more interest in fighting crimes and serve as a deterrent to those being tempted to go into crimes. Federal, state and local government authorities should further support and empower law-enforcement agencies with required tools and equipment to prevent and fight crimes.
It called on religious bodies to support the efforts of the state government and security operatives “by sensitizing their members to shun criminal activities and provide information to security agencies to expose criminals.
“Traditional rulers owe it a duty to take advantage of their chiefs and community leaders especially in rural areas to keep an eye on people of shady characters among them and expose their suspicious movements.
“State government, local governments and Local Council Development Areas should devote more attention to the areas of security challenges mentioned above for urgent solution”.
The Council congratulated Governor Biodun Oyebanji on his one year in office, lauded him for the various projects executed within his first year and advised on the need to sustain palliatives to mitigate the effects of removing subsidies on petrol.
It stated, “Government should not relent in its efforts in this regard.
Implementation of Agreements with Labour Unions. To sustain the current industrial harmony in the state and country, governments should live up to the terms of agreements reached with the labour unions”.
