Senate, CAN demand arrest of Abuja pastor’s killers

The Senate on Tuesday condemned the gruesome murder of an evangelist with the Redeemed Christian Church of God,  Deaconess Eunice Olawale, in the Kubwa area of the Federal Capital Territory, on Saturday.

The upper chamber, while adopting the two prayers in a motion moved by Senator Oluremi Tinubu, observed a one-minute silence for the deceased and urged security operatives to unravel the criminals behind the act.

Tinubu had in her motion recalled the gruesome murder of the preacher on Saturday, 9th July, 2016 at about 5am at Kubwa, FCT.

She said, “The Senate is saddened by the unfortunate incident which led the husband, the widower and seven children, motherless.

“The Senate recalls that Eunice Olawale had been into early morning preaching for years without complaints from any quarters.

 “The Senate is saddened that on this fateful day as she was being attacked and shouting for help, no one came to her rescue.

“The Senate observes that unwarranted killings are becoming rampant in Nigeria. The Senate observes further that it is unlawful to take another life of a citizen as enshrined in chapter four sections 33, 38, 39 and 41 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).

“The Senate thereby accordingly resolves to observe a one-minute silence in honour of the deceased and commiserates with the widower, Pastor Elisha Olawale and the seven children left behind by the deceased.

“The Senate urges members of the  public to always respond to distress calls anytime at least by calling emergency police numbers where they cannot physically intervened.

“The Senate accordingly urged government at all levels to provide more security facilities like CCT cameras at the nooks and crannies of Nigeria.

“The Senate urged the police and other security agencies to intensify their investigation at arresting and prosecuting those who committed such a heinous crime.”

The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, condemned the murder and urged the police to intensify search for the criminals that carried out the act.

Meanwhile, the Christian Association of Nigeria (FCT chapter), on Wednesday described the recent attacks on Christians across the country as a blight on the symbol of the nation’s unity that must be urgently addressed.

The Chairman of CAN in FCT, Rev. Israel Akanji, at a press briefing in Abuja called on all Christians in the FCT to “put on hold” proposed peaceful protest on the killing of Mrs. Olawale.

He said, “Although we are yet to see our FCT Minister on this matter, I wish to assure all aggrieved people, particularly Christians to put on hold any action. We wish to appeal for calmness to all our Christian faithful on this matter. Several zones of CAN have called to seek permission for protests against what happened.”

Akanji also called on government and all security agencies, to act appropriately to prevent its escalation.

He said, “The circumstance of the killing of this woman is worrisome as it could be interpreted as disallowing the right of speech and worship which the constitution defends. While such an act is condemnable anywhere in the country, it is most to be abhorred in Abuja, being the symbol of Nigeria’s unity.

“There is need to nip this unacceptable behaviour in the mud so that it would not infringe on the peace which has existed in the FCT. We have resolved that the government must act convincingly about this occurrence to show that it is strongly unacceptable. That acts of brutality like in this case, if not immediately firmly checked, could escalate in frequency, intensity and sophistication.”