Palm Sunday: Ondo Bishop faults rising insecurity, urges swift govt action
By Boye Oyeyemi
The Catholic Bishop of Ondo Diocese, Jude Arogundade, has decried the growing level of insecurity in Ondo State, calling on the government to take decisive steps to curb kidnapping and related crimes.
His remarks followed the recent abduction of three persons at the Comprehensive Health Centre in Oke Ijebu, Akure, in the early hours of Saturday.
Speaking during a Palm Sunday Mass at the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Akure, Arogundade said the situation required urgent attention from both federal and state authorities.
“I don’t think our government is serious enough. Akure is being invaded, and people are asking questions with no clear answers,” he said.
He further warned that suspected criminals were gradually gaining ground in strategic locations within the state capital.
Responding to political elements who chose to downplay the situation of things, the cleric went on to also criticize their remarks, stressing that the scale of violence could not be trivialised.
Arogundade, therefore, urged citizens to remain vigilant and prayerful, while insisting that the government must not abdicate its responsibility to protect lives and property.
While urging Christians to remain steadfast, the priest noted that Palm Sunday marks the beginning of the Holy Week, hence Christians are admonished to reflect on sacrifice, faith, and hope in the face of challenges.
