Federal Government Not Doing Enough To Contain Boko Haram – Catholic Bishops

The Catholic Bishop Conference of Nigeria has said the Federal Government is not doing enough to contain the activities of the extremist Boko Haram sect in the North East zone. The bishops therefore challenged the administration to step up its strategies in the region to safeguard the lives of the people. In a communiqué issued after its meeting on Thursday in Warri, Delta State, the Conference lamented the increasing carnage in the region and urged the government to act decisively. The document, sent to Premium Times on Friday, was signed by its President, Ignatius Kaigama, and Secretary, William Avenya.

The Conference said the situation in the North-East region was creating a heightened sense of unrest and siege for the country.

“As Nigeria 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,” the group said.

“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 governments 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. 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 into anarchy and mutual self-destruction and bring criminals to justice.”

The Conference urged Nigerians to be alert to the grave danger facing “all of us and our nation from within and without.” It noted that the issue was 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,” it said.

It added, “We urge therefore that we all support and encourage every positive effort by the current government to protect every Nigerian and defend the integrity and unity of Nigeria. Let us equally take lawful measures locally to prevent the destruction of fellow Nigerians and to ward off Nigeria’s destroyers.”

Culled from: Premium Times