Punish Perpetrators Of Criminality, BWA Tells Government (Full-Text)

Punish Perpetrators Of Criminality, BWA Tells Government (Full-Text)

The Baptist World Alliance (BWA) has urged the Nigerian government to punish perpetrators of crime and criminality to curb widespread insecurity in the country.

BWA’s General Secretary, Rev. Elijah Brown, made this call at a press conference organized as part of the annual meeting of BWA held at EKO Hotel, Lagos. The event, running from July 6th to 12th, carries the theme: “To Live as Ambassadors of Peace.”

The meeting will gather leaders, educators, public office holders, and leadership experts from around the world, featuring training sessions, discussions, paper presentations, and plenary sessions. The agenda will focus on three key areas: Poverty and Hunger, Peace and Justice amid violent conflict, and Religious Freedom for all.

Rev. Brown emphasized that the rule of law is the foundation of flourishing societies, ensuring that every citizen has access to livelihood and equal rights while holding accountable those who commit acts of injustice and violence.

“The only way forward for peace in Nigeria is to reject retribution, to avoid retaliation, but to continue to build relationships across the religions and to work for the restoration of communities that have been destroyed and hold accountable those who have engaged in these atrocities,” he stated.

He added that Baptists do not align with politicians but with policies that benefit the people. “We do not stand with political parties but with people who are suffering, and we call upon every elected official and every person of goodwill in Nigeria to work for policies across all parties that will benefit the people.”

Rev. Brown lamented the ongoing conflicts between farmers and herders in parts of the country, stressing that now is not the time to cast aspersions but to emphasize holistic peace for all. He reiterated that the foundation of such peace is the rule of law and holding accountable those who have engaged in violence.

The National President of the Nigerian Baptist Convention, Dr. Israel Akanji, echoed these sentiments, noting that one of Nigeria’s problems is the issue of impunity.