Kokoroyo Martins, Asaba
The South-South Zone of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has threatened a showdown with men of the Department of Security Service (DSS) over the detention of Pastor Tarere, the son of Archbishop God-do-well Awomakpai.
Tarere was swooped upon by officials of the security department and detained for allegedly forwarding text messages to people on a proposed protest in Abuja against the ordeal of Apostle John Suleiman in the hands of DSS officials when he visited Ekiti State for a crusade.
He was said to have thrown his weight behind the self-defence tactics, which Apostle Suleiman of the Omega Fire Ministries (OFM), suggested as a solution to the activities of Fulani herdsmen during the crusade.
He was also accused of admonishing his congregation to defend themselves with whatever weapon at their disposal against the invasion of their homes and towns by Fulani herdsmen.
Because of his utterances, he was arrested and detained by DSS officials three days ago.
The Bishops, visibly angry, numbering 70 including Pastors, Evangelists, Deacons, Rev. Sisters, and their lawyers, lambasted the Federal Government for turning security agencies in the country to witch-hunting tools.
It allegedly took the intervention of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, who the Archbishop described as “my son”, before the tension that was gathering momentum was doused.
The clerics stormed the yard of the DSS in Asaba about 10.48 am in their cassocks, protesting the detention.
Provoked by this, his father, who is the South-South Zone Chairman of CAN, supported by other Bishops, led clerics and lawyers to secure his unconditional release, threatened that if by tomorrow (today) the Cleric (Tarere) still remains in their cell, million of Christians would troop to the streets of Asaba against the DSS.
