By Ikemefuna Asika, Awka
The ANAMBRA State Commandant of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Maku Olatunde, has called on religious leaders to take the issue of security seriously, support NSCDC and other security agencies in their unrelenting efforts to protect lives and property of citizens.
Olatunde made the call when he paid a courtesy visit to the Catholic Bishop of Awka, His Lordship, Most Rev. Paulinus Ezeokafor, at the Catholic Secretariat in Awka.
He urged religious leaders whose significant roles cannot be over emphasized to utilize their positions in advocating, educating and instilling morals on the congregation not to indulge in crimes or allow insecurity in the society to fester with their actions .
The State Commandant noted that NSCDC in collaboration with other security agencies are working in harmony to improve peaceful coexistence in the state and implored clerics to offer prayers, be security conscious and create an enabling environment for effective security of places of worship.
He called on Church leaders to assist security agencies by sharing credible and actionable intelligence that could nib crime in the bud within their domains or worship centers.
Responding, the Catholic Bishop of Awka, Most Rev. Paulinus Ezeokafor appreciated the NSCDC State Commandant for the visit which he described as timely and assured the NSCDC state boss of strengthened collaboration, saying, the Catholic Church is ready and willing to partner NSCDC in the formation of people’s conscience.
“We are partners in progress and our position in the Catholic Church is to make your work less cumbersome.
“We are going to help you to talk to the conscience of people through inculcating morals in them. If our country can get better citizens, governance will be very easy.
“If everybody knows that killing is evil, why would they engage in that , insecurity does nobody any good ” he said.
Bishop Ezeokafor prayed for the leadership of the Corps , the State Commandant and his team and wished them well noting that their success is dependent on God.
Comdt Maku was accompanied on the visit by Deputy Commandant, Orji Ogbu, Deputy Commandant Ike George, Deputy Commandant Prominence Ukaobi and Assistant Commandant Fidelia Enunwe.
