Anglican Communion seeks permanent solution to terrorism, kidnapping

Okoh made the appeal during a sermon at a Christmas Day service at the Cathedral Church of the Advent, Life Camp, Abuja.

In the service attended by President Goodluck Jonathan, his wife, Dame Patience Jonathan and members of the first family, Okoh said Nigeria needs ``freedom from terrorists, kidnappers, armed robbery and political wickedness’’.

He said freedom for prisoners was part of the message of Christmas and asked all to pray for the end of the ``harassment by terrorists in Nigeria.

Okoh said: ``If you look at this church environment you will see so many security men on duty.

``It is not everybody that can bear with this kind of situation; since the emergence of terrorists, many people no longer go to church and many select the day they go.

``So it is our duty and prayer that in the coming year, Nigeria will know perfect security and that men and women will return to normal life.

``And nobody will stop anybody from visiting anywhere; if you want to go to Maiduguri or Kaura Namoda, you should be free to go.''

The cleric also expressed concern that kidnapping in the country was being fuelled by greed and ``love of money’’.

``This type of people, we cannot justify them by talking of unemployment; the kidnapper is not interested in unemployment, because you cannot pay him.

``They have become used to spending big money and if from one kidnapping he gets N50 million, tell me where you can employ such a person?’’

Earlier, the primate wove his sermon around the theme of the ''Messiah’s presence in our midst’’ and based his message from Isaiah, Chapter 9 and the gospel of John chapter 1.

He said Jesus Christ came into the world to give eternal salvation, redemptive light, peace and hope to the poor.

The leader of Anglicans emphasised that Jesus mission of giving succour to the poor should be a ``guiding principle’’ to all political, religious and traditional rulers.

On this, he commended Jonathan’s administration for its efforts at encouraging food security through local rice production and encouraging of consumption of cassava bread.

He also observed that government was bringing hope to the poor by the current efforts aimed at resuscitating the moribund railway sector and fixing the nation's electricity problems