Following the ever-rising state of insecurity in the country, the former head of state, Yakubu Gowon led a prayer rally in Bauchi state on Sunday to “fervently intercede for the country” in these troubling times.

Gowon while speaking at the Nigerian Prays event for groups from all the Northeastern zones pointed out the gathering was to seek God’s mercies and blessings on Nigeria.

“Lord, as your people, we bring confession of the needless bloodshed, killings, and attacks by the dreadful Boko Haram insurgents, banditry and the spate of kidnappings and all kinds of evil in various parts of the country.

“Lord, we plead for your forgiveness, mercy, and cleansing of the land,” he prayed.

The retired General Yakubu Gowon served as Nigeria’s head of state from 1966 to 1975, choosing a military option over peaceful negotiations with the Biafrans who sought an end to the persecution of the Igbo speaking region.

During his rule, over 3 million Biafrans were massacred in the civil war and some 2 million, mainly kids were starved to death in a British aided food blockade.

Gowon has urged all the religious groups in the country to pray to God for solutions to the rise in insurgency perpetrated by the many terrorist groups from the North.

Chukwugozie Okeke reporting, Obinwannem News