AFRICA/NIGERIA - New cry of alarm from the Bishops on the serious insecurity in the Country

Monday, 17 May 2021 bishops   violence  

Abuja (Agenzia Fides) - "The state of Nigeria in different parts of our country with so much violence, insecurity and anxiety is a source of major concern to us Bishops. We are speaking to you, our people at various levels of government and across the nation, to see that this nation is in great danger unless we bring a new spirit, a new approach", say the Bishops of the Ecclesiastical Province of Onitsha and Owerri in a video message in which they reaffirm the concern repeatedly expressed by the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria - CBCN on the country's insecurity. An insecurity due not only to the action of jihadist groups in the North, to armed gangs of Fulani shepherds in the center-north, and to widespread banditry everywhere, but above all to the corruption and inefficiency of the police, state and federal forces. Such serious deficiencies have favored the emergence of self-defense groups, with the risk of aggravating instability in the country, as previously reported by the CBCN (see Fides, 24/2/2021).
In their message, the Bishops of the Ecclesiastical Province of Onitsha and Owerri, however, denounce a "worrying imbalance in the application of justice", because "the government has found it necessary to disarm those who are struggling for self-defense while leaving those herdsmen, bandits and others who are killing many and destroying people instead of addressing the source of the problems, addressing the cries of the people". The Bishops therefore ask the government led by President Muhammad Buhari to "look into security matters and restrain those who are using weapons of various sorts to intimidate the people and to create this unrest".
On his own account on the occasion of the 55th World Communications Day, the Bishop of Ekiti, His Exc. Mgr. Felix Ajakaye urged politicians to avoid what he defined as "political idolatry", or the attitude of always jumping from one political party to the other aimlessly or for pecuniary reasons, rather than in national interest. In addressing the journalists present, Bishop Ajakaye invited them to practice journalism "as a means of integrity and credibility; there must not be room for armchair Journalism where a journalist bases his report or presentation on mere speculation without making efforts to go through a necessary investigation". Bishop Ajakaye then asked the media world to contribute to the social life of the country by exercising their profession to the best of their ability. "The hallmark of the journalism profession is investigative journalism which is all about research and positive oriented, it demands patience, sacrifice, commitment and will power, which is focused on justice, peace, unity, harmony, growth and development". (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 17/5/2021)


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