The planter of the Christ Apostolic Church, Boanerges,Prophet Joseph Ade Ologbonyo, has urged president Bola Ahmed Tinubu to priotise the fight against insecurity in Nigeria .
The church leader also tasked the president to take advantage of the abundant tourism potentials to salvage the ailing economy .
Speaking while sanctifying the Erin Ijesha community in Osun State,(home of waterfall),Ologbonyo posited that no meaningful impact could be made on the economy if the menace of banditry and kidnappings were not curbed .
According to him,a recent intelligence report by SB Morgan, titled “The Economics of Nigeria’s Kidnap Industry,” published on August 23, 2023. revealed that no fewer than 3,620 people were kidnapped in 582 incidents related to kidnappings, with N5billion demanded as ransome.
The report further claimed that as huge as N302 million have been paid as ransome within the period under review.
Prophet Ologbonyo,therefore charged the state and the local governments to work with the federal government to fight insecurity in the land.
The cleric also tasked the government to expand its revenue base by investing in tourism.
He cited Erin Ijesha’s Olumirin Waterfall as a good example of a tourism hub which could be a source of revenue earning for the government.
Ologbonyo said the hike in food prices may not be unconnected with the siege on Nigerian farms by bandits and kidnappers adding that many farmers could not access their farms due to the growing insecurity.
“The issue is, who will be producing food for us when farmers are afraid of going to the farm because of kidnappers?,” Ologbonyo asked.
With a particular reference to the kidnapping of a cocoa businessman and a woman ,not too long ago, for which ransom were paid,Ologbonyo maintained that the insecurity was taken its toll on Nigeria’s economy.
“The most recent massacre in Plateau State make it imperative for the government to find a long-term solution to the nation’s raging insecurity.
He made reference to the Punch Newspapers report of June 29, 2023, which stated that 128 farmers had died in 2023 between the months of January and June .
“The waterfall is among the top tourist destinations in the nation, but there are apprehension about visiting this natural wonder site . Numerous other tourist destinations across the nation are also affected by this similar insecurity problem.
In his remarks ,the Akinla of Erin Ijesha Kingdom, Oba Isaac Adeyeba Ayeni, called on sons and daughters of the community to come home and develop the town.