Catholic Bishops Say Nigeria Bleeds, Burns With Bombings And Killings In The North-East

Catholic Bishops across the country have expressed concern over violence, bombings and killings in the North-East.

The bishops, under the aegis of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), declared, in a communiqué, that while Nigeria bleeds and burns, government must rise to its duty of protecting lives and property.

The statement, signed by the President of the CBCN, Most Rev. Ignatius Ayau Kaigama, and Secretary, Most Rev. William Avenya, believed this is not the time to play politics, as it ‘’does not matter who becomes the President, but putting the lives of the people first and restoring peace and unity to the country’’.

“As Nigeria tragically bleeds and burns, we Bishops are really alarmed at the scale of human, material destruction, and the disruption of village and community life with increased levels of hatred and potentials for more conflicts in the nation. While Muslims are sometimes targets of these destructive attacks, Christians Churches and non- Muslims in general are the principal targets for extermination, expropriation and expulsion by the Boko Haram insurgents, the perpetrators of all these destructions.”

“We believe that we still have government- at federal and state- levels whose primary duty it is to preserve and protect the life, of every Nigerian irrespective of tribe, religion, social class or tradition.

“In the face of this Boko Haram group and other criminal militias arming themselves beyond our legitimate government and brazenly killing innocent, defenseless citizens, our government must do more than it is currently doing to safeguard our lives and defend our nation. It must do more than it is currently doing to fight off and disarm these actual destroyers of Nigerians and Nigeria. It must do more than it is currently doing to prevent segments of our nation from drifting, anarchy and mutual self-destruction and bring criminals to justice.

“We warn every Nigerian community at local and state levels to be alert to the grave danger facing all of us and our nation from within and from without. The issue is not about who becomes president or governor or senator after the 2015 General Elections. The issue is about the life and security of every one of us who loves his or her life and really cares about our living together in peace as noble Nigerians.”

The bishops declared a two-day national all-night prayer scheduled for 13th and 14th of November, 2014 in Abuja to intercede for the nation.