The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Anambra State Command has called on religious leaders to take the issue of security seriously, support NSCDC and other security agencies in their unrelenting efforts to protect lives and property of citizens.

State Commandant, Maku Olatunde made the call while on a courtesy visit to the Catholic Bishop of Awka, His Lordship, Most Rev. Paulinus Ezeokafor, at the Catholic Secretariat Awka.

He urged religious leaders whose significant roles cannot be over emphasized to utilize their positions in advocating, educating and instilling morals on the congregation not to indulge in crimes or allow insecurity in the society to fester with their actions

The State Commandant noted that NSCDC in collaboration with other security agencies are working in harmony to improve peaceful coexistence in the state and implored clerics to offer prayers, be security conscious and create an enabling environment for effective security of places of worship.

He called on church leaders to assist security agencies by sharing credible and actionable intelligence that can nib crime in the bud within their domains or worship centers.

Responding, Catholic Bishop of Awka, Most Rev. Paulinus Ezeokafor thanked the NSCDC State helmsman for the visit which he described as timely and appreciated.

He assured the NSCDC state boss of strengthened collaboration, saying, the Catholic Church is ready and willing to partner NSCDC in the formation of people’s conscience.

“We are partners in progress and our position in the Catholic Church is to make your work less cumbersome.

“We are going to help you to talk to the conscience of people through inculcating morals in them. If our country can get better citizens, governance will be very easy.

“If everybody knows that killing is evil, why would they engage in that , Insecurity does nobody good ” he said.

Bishop Ezeokafor prayed for the leadership of the Corps , the State Commandant and his team and wished them well noting that their success is dependent on God.

The State Commandant was accompanied on the visit by Deputy Commandant, Orji Ogbu, Deputy Commandant Ike George, Deputy Commandant Prominence Ukaobi and Assistant Commandant Fidelia Enunwe.