Insecurity: Church Not Doing Enough To Check Youths’ Roles – Bauchi CAN Chairman

…Says Nigerians are like a people without hope

BY ADEYEMI AKANJI, BAUCHI – The Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Bauchi State chapter, Rev. Abraham Damina Dimeus has berated the Church for not doing enough to check the involvement of Christian youths in insecurity and other forms of criminality that include kidnapping, banditry, corruption and many other vices.

This was as he declared that the spate of insecurity and dwindling economic situation in the country has made life terribly unbearable for Nigerians thus, making them become like people without hope for a better tomorrow.

Rev. Dimeus, who stated these while speaking at a summit on Security organized by the Youth Wing of Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN) Bauchi State Chapter on Sunday, noted that stressed that the Church has failed by not doing much to check the involvement of the youths in all the vices taking place in the country.

In his words; “Christian youths are deeply involved in the mess. Where then lie the hope for a better Nigeria? In times like this, what is the role of Christian youths in fighting insecurity?

“As it is now, citizens are in times of chaos, hunger, poverty, banditry, armed robbery, kidnapping, corruption and many other vices that have retarded development of every facet of human existence”.

Rev Dimeus drew his text from Exodus 9:14 and Isaiah 2:1-5 saying; “Christian youths have significant roles to play in times of life this. We don’t have to aggravate the already worse situation as youths.

“Check out those involved in Boko Haram, kidnapping, banditry and other vices, you will discover that majority of them are youths. This is not telling positive for the future of Nigeria. We must do something quickly to bring back the youths to their senses.

“We should not be ignorant of the situation, as Christian youths, we must live upright, be good examples and followers of the meekness of Jesus Christ. Shun vices, concentrate on doing good always,” he advised.

The man of God assured that CAN will continue to protect the integrity and interest of the Christian youths in the state, warming however that; “we will not hesitate to expose and handover to security agencies, any youth found involved in any criminal activity”.

The CAN Chairman called on government at all levels to step up security measures across the country to save guard the lives of all Nigerians particularly at this Yuletide period when movements from one place to another is at its peak.

Earlier, the Director of Youth in CCN, Mr. Ishola Michael said that the youths as future of the Church must be awaken in order to take their rightful position in the scheme of things in the Nigeria project.

Michael emphasized that when the youths are properly educated on the roles they are expected to play in times like this, they will become responsible leaders of the Church which will then affect the society positively.

In his own remarks, President of the YOWICCN, Mr Bitrus Gwakata said that the summit was organized with the aim of bringing the youths up to know that they have a stake in the Nigeria project and must do everything possible to effectively participate in it.

Gwakata added that the theme was chosen in order to let the youths know that in times like this, they do not have to sit on the fence but to be alert and offer a helping hand in the efforts to stem the issue of insecurity in Nigeria by applying the principles of the Bible.

Prayers for peace, harmony among Nigerians was led by Rev Prof Collins David who stressed that it is only fervent prayers by Christian youths across the country that can save the situation from deterioration to worst.