Connect with us

Crime

Don’t stigmatise members who leave abusive marriages, cleric urges pastors

Published

on

Don’t stigmatise members who leave abusive marriages, cleric urges pastors

Don’t stigmatise members who leave abusive marriages, cleric urges pastors

A Cleric, Pastor Mike Ogbeh, has urged his fellow pastors to educate their members on the need to stop stigmatising people who leave abusive marriages.

Ogbeh, who made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday, said that some persons refused to leave abusive marriages because of fear of being stigmatised by the church they attend.

“There should be more sensitisation from the pulpit to stop the stigmatisation of people who leave violent marriages.

“It is not the fear of what people will say, it is more of what the church will say or what members will say that make people remain in such marriages.

“People who seek divorce because of abusive marriages usually face stigma from the church, depending on the denomination of the church they attend.

“Someone shared a comment on social media which I like, the person wrote; God hates divorce, but He doesn’t hate divorcees. Divorcees are still God’s children,’’ the cleric said.

READ ALSO: 4 Million People To Face Food Insecurity In North-East – UN

He said that the issue of abusive marriages, just like issues of sex and child adoption was hardly spoken about by pastors in churches.

“It is a challenge to the church, it is just like the issue of sex, the church shies away from the issue of sex.

“The issue of child adoption is not really talked about in the church because you have to believe God that the child must come from your womb.

“However, some things happen that serve as a wake-up call. There are few people that have been talking about abusive marriages, but it is not so common in the churches.

“But with one or two recent happenings, we have begun to see a great number of pastors say things along this line from the pulpit.

“It is being handled quietly, but I think with the recent happenings, pastors will be bolder to say some of those things publicly,’’ he said.

The cleric, however, advised would-be couples not to ignore warning signs as well as seek God’s direction before going into marriage.

He also advised victims of domestic violence to speak out.

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Crime

Chinese expatriate dies in Kogi after collapsing at work

Published

on

Chinese expatriate dies in Kogi after collapsing at work

By: Zagazola Makama

A 47-year-old Chinese national working as a supervisor at BN Ceramics in Ajaokuta, Kogi State, has died after slumping at his duty post, the police have confirmed.

Sources said that the expatriate, identified as Mr. Luo Zhi Mao, collapsed on Aug. 2 at about 6:30 p.m. while working at the Press Department of the factory.

He was immediately rushed to Covenant Hospital, Ajaokuta, and subsequently referred to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Lokoja. However, due to an ongoing strike by doctors and nurses at FMC, he was later moved to Shifaah Hospital in Lokoja.

At about 9:30 p.m. on Aug. 5, Mr. Luo was confirmed dead at Shifaah Hospital.

His body has been deposited at the Kogi State Specialist Hospital Mortuary for autopsy.

Sources said investigations were ongoing to determine the exact cause of death, though no foul play has been suspected at this stage.

The management of BN Ceramics has yet to issue a formal statement on the incident.

Chinese expatriate dies in Kogi after collapsing at work

Continue Reading

Crime

Bandits abduct Zamfara monarch after deadly NAF airstrike that kills scores of bandits in Tsafe

Published

on

Bandits abduct Zamfara monarch after deadly NAF airstrike that kills scores of bandits in Tsafe

By: Zagazola Makama

Armed bandits have abducted the traditional ruler of Yankuzo, Alhaji Babangida Kogo, in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State, barely hours after a devastating Nigerian Air Force (NAF) airstrike killed dozens of bandits in a forest enclave near the area.

The monarch was reportedly abducted on Tuesday evening along the Mararraba axis as he attempted to flee his community amid fears of reprisal attacks by the terrorists.

Sources confirmed to Zagazola Makama that the abduction was carried out by a large group of armed men riding on over 10 motorcycles. The assailants intercepted the monarch and his entourage near the abandoned farm of the late Alhaji Malami Yandoto and took him away, leaving others behind.

The abduction followed a precision airstrike carried out by the Air Component of Operation Hadarin Daji on the same day, targeting a large bandit assembly believed to be a wedding or celebratory gathering in a forest location between Yankuzo and Munhaye.

Zagazola gathered that the air raid followed credible intelligence and aerial surveillance, which tracked the movement of over 100 armed bandits converging at the location. The strike led to the killing of scores of terrorists and left many others wounded.

Security sources said the gathering was attended by fighters loyal to notorious bandit kingpins operating in the Tsafe–Zurmi axis, some of whom had crossed over from neighboring forests in Katsina and Sokoto states.

“The impact was massive, charred bodies and destroyed motorcycles littered the area after the strike,”said a source.

Following the air raid, fear gripped surrounding villages, with many residents fleeing in anticipation of retaliatory attacks by the surviving bandits.

“We knew they would strike back. That’s why our district head was leaving. Unfortunately, he ran into them before reaching safety,” said a Yankuzo resident who requested anonymity for security reasons.

Local vigilante sources confirmed that efforts were ongoing to trace the whereabouts of the abducted monarch. Military ground troops have also been deployed to the area to prevent further attacks.

The abduction point to the growing desperation of bandit groups under sustained military pressure in Zamfara and the wider North West region.

Bandits abduct Zamfara monarch after deadly NAF airstrike that kills scores of bandits in Tsafe

Continue Reading

Crime

Gunmen in military uniform abduct passengers in Benue

Published

on

Gunmen in military uniform abduct passengers in Benue

By: Zagazola Makama

Suspected armed men dressed in military camouflage have abducted at least four passengers from a commercial bus along the Otukpo axis of Benue State.

Zagazola Makama gathered that the incident occurred on Aug. 3 at about 10:00 p.m. near Mechanic Village in Otukpo, when a commercial Hummer bus, en route from Abia State to Otukpo, was attacked by the assailants.

Sources said that the gunmen, believed to be Fulani herdsmen, whisked away between four and five passengers to an unknown destination.

One of the passengers, Sandra Okoh, a resident of Otobi Akpa, managed to escape during the attack and was later found during a joint search and rescue operation by the Nigerian Troops.

She told the security forces that her husband, Okoh Mike, was among those abducted. She also alleged that the bus driver fled the scene with passengers’ luggage and failed to report the incident to any nearby police station.

The security forces have since launched a manhunt for the suspects and intensified efforts to rescue the kidnapped victims.

Gunmen in military uniform abduct passengers in Benue

Continue Reading

Trending

Verified by MonsterInsights