The Catholic Bishops of Ibadan Province on Thursday urged government at all levels to support the legitimate yearnings of peoples all over Nigeria to live and thrive in peace within their rights as citizens of Nigeria.
This was contained in a communique issued by the President of Bishops Mist Rev. Gabriel Abegunrin at the end of the first meeting of the Catholic Bishops of Ibadan Province held at Jubilee Centre, Oke- Ado in Oyo.
The statement urged the Federal Government to consider improved ways of catering for cattle with minimum stress to other legitimate professions, as is done elsewhere in the world.
“Surely, cattle-rearing is practised in other countries in Africa and the world. The continuous conflicts provoked by so-called Fulani herdsmen in Nigeria attained a tragic climax with the brutal slaughter of over 70 people recently buried in Benue State.
“The unfortunate, by-now-familiar “siddon-look” attitude of the Federal Government to such tragedies involving cow-herders in parts of the country has made many Nigerians to question whether animal rights could indeed be placed above human lives.
“As we offer our deepest condolences to our bereaved compatriots in Benue State, we fervently pray for the repose of the souls of the dead and divine comfort for those left behind to mourn them.
“All hands must be on deck to put a stop to the bloody charade witnessed so frequently from encounters with Fulani herdsmen.
“Lack of preemptive action and delay in reacting to crises all over the country, on the part of government and the security agencies, must be rectified so that innocent lives may henceforth be protected.
Speaking on the release of the three Rev. Sisters that were abducted in November last year in Edo State, the bishops thanked the government and the security agencies urging the to be more active.
“We are particularly grateful for the safe release, after 55 days in captivity of three Aspirants and three Reverend Sisters of the Eucharistic Hearts of Jesus (EHJ) who were kidnapped in November 2017 from their convent in Benin, Edo State.
“We thank all those who prayed and worked for a happy outcome to this unfortunate kidnapping, we pray for the quick and safe release of all who are in captivity in Nigeria and for the conversion of the perpetrators.
“We once again call on the Nigerian government and security agencies to do more to curtail the ugly incidences of kidnaping which has become a national embarrassment to Nigeria as a country and prosecute those who commit such crimes.
