The law enforcement agencies must do all that is necessary to tackle national insecurity and restore lasting peace in the country, the Catholic Archbishops of Abuja have said.
In a communique issued on Saturday in Abuja after a two-day General Assembly, the bishops condemned in totality the violence and relentless attacks by insurgents, bandits, kidnappers across the country with President Muhammadu Buhari doing little or nothing.
The bishops were of the view that the root causes of these crises and criminal acts are not unknown to the authorities. But they suggested that the unhealthy sentiments seem to play out in the handling of the menace with kid gloves. Insecurity has crippled economic and agricultural activities, forcing the nation to depend on external loans for survival, the bishops said.
“As part of the dividends of democracy, we call on government to put into judicious and effective use, the huge amounts being borrowed externally to run the affairs of government and finance projects across the nation. Many of our youths roam the streets with dim hopes for a brighter future. We cannot in Nigeria therefore remain blind to the issues of corrupt governance, unemployment, insecurity, the discontent among young people and the increasing inability of many to meet the basic necessities of life’’ the communique reads.
The communique was jointly signed by His Grace, Most Rev Ignatius Kaigama, the Archbishop of Abuja, and Rev. Fr. Sebastian Musa, the Chancellor. The bishops also dwelled on coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. They thanked God that Africa was spared from the widely speculated destruction by the pandemic that ravaged every continent of the world.
“The pandemic exposed our weak political stamina and fragile economy to more difficult situations that constitute a setback towards effective evangelization and the rapid development of our people,” the communique said. The bishops noted that the Abuja Archdiocese has continued to enjoy God’s blessings, particularly, in the area of pastoral growth.
‘’We renew our appeal to individuals or groups to sponsor a church building or rectory in any of these pastoral areas. ’It is hoped that as we mark the 40th anniversary of the jurisdiction of Abuja on November 6, 2021.” They also appreciated the various Commissions in the Archdiocese as they were up and doing, adding that ‘’ We commend their initiatives and are grateful to them’’.
On Liturgical Commission, they noted that the Commission is committed to increasing the awareness of prescribed liturgical guidelines and adaptations approved for use in the archdiocese. They appealed for more Catholics to show active participation and cooperation in ecumenism, saying that Justice, Development and Peace (Caritas) Commission has been able to assist some internally displaced people as a result of insurgency as the youths were given a special attention in the face of unfortunate unemployment in the country.
