Catholic Bishop seeks end to killings

TRACKING ___Bishop Emmanuel Badejo of the Catholic Diocese of Oyo has appealed to leaders and all concerned to stop killings, especially in the North.

He made the appeal in his message to the Muslim faithful ahead of this year’s Eid-el-Kabir.

Badejo said: “Eid el-Kabir, the feast of sacrifices; reminds us that God detests the killing of human beings.

“That was why God provided a ram for Abraham, our father in the faith, to slaughter, and he did not kill his son, Isaac.

“Let us use our religions to promote peace, love, reconciliation, justice and development, not divisions, conflicts and bloodshed.”

The prelate made a copy of the message available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday.

Badejo, on behalf of the priests and the laity of the Diocese of Oyo, felicitated with Muslims on the celebration of Eid el-Kabir.

According to him, all Christians and Muslims who truly worship God should change the narratives and ask themselves thought-provoking questions such as: “Why the country is still in such a poor state?”

“Even as we rejoice, why do we still see in our country a high level of financial and institutional corruption, serious insecurity, unemployment, terrorism, ethnic clashes, rape, ritual killings, human trafficking, armed robbery, among other ills.’’

He prayed that God would deliver Nigeria from the scourge of killings, and the world at large, from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I pray with all Muslim brothers and sisters at this period of the holy celebration that the merciful God protect you as you rejoice in your hearts and homes.”