has reacted to the recent killings in Plateau State and other states
in the Middle Belt by Fulani herdsmen.
In a statement forwarded to us through the global press release in
World Episcopal headquarters in Houston, Texas, United States of
America via Africa Episcopal headquarters in Lagos Nigeria, the
Bishops said enough was enough to the killings going on in the
country.
The statement was endorsed by the Supreme Council of Bishops; the
World Council of Bishops; The Global Advisory Board; the Global
Council of Apostolic Nuncio (s); and the Prelate and its Deputies
across all 7 continents of the world; the Central Executive Council
Globally; all Regional and National Prelates Worldwide, and the
General Assembly Worldwide.
The Bishops in the strongest possible terms condemned the incessant
killings and manslaughter of Nigerians by the Fulani herdsmen who
allegedly call themselves Miyetti Allah Group and the like.
They also sent their deepest condolences to all of the affected
communities, and demanded that all the perpetrators of the heinous
crime be brought to justice, and ensure any further future violence is
sternly prevented.
The cleric noted that, "Two years have gone down the drain. We as a
Global Council watched, observed, prayed and fasted earnestly, how
innocent lives of the good citizens of Nigeria are been attacked,
property destroyed, some confiscated, and their lives been wasted in
broad daylight manslaughter, as Catholic Priests, Parishioners,
Worshipers in Churches, Villages, and Cities around the Middle Belt
region, North Central States, and part of the North Eastern States,
and across the Nigerian State as a whole were not left out, times
without number.
"We expected the Government of Nigeria under the able leadership of
President Muhammad Buhari GCFR, as it has promised to defend, secure,
and protect the lives of Nigerians as enshrined in the Constitution of
the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, Chapter II, Section 14b), to
take a decisive – workable solution to permanently curtail the
excesses of the Fulanis and their herdsmen from taking laws into their
hands, but these killings keeps aggravating.
"We as a Global Council of Bishops Worldwide, lend our Global
Bishopric Voice and Global Bishopric Support on All the States in
Adamawa, Benue, Nasarawa, Plateau, Taraba, Kaduna, Zamfara States, in
the Middle Belt Region, the North Central, North Eastern States,
Eastern and Southern regions of Nigeria whose People have been
slaughtered and properties destroyed, do hereby unequivocally make Our
Global Bishopric Stands known today that, Enough Is Enough –
Henceforth This Killings Must Stop!"
Continuing, the Bishops pointed out that a father who fails to perform
his primary duty of deciplining his straying children will always
regret it at last.
They added, "A father who does not govern his home properly, where he
sees and hears his children or wards under his care, are misbehaving
outside the home, and several reports are made of their rascally
misbehavior, and as a father, shields them, and at times feigns
knowledge and never corrects them, by ensuring proper disciplinary
actions are meted out on the children, so as to preserve their lives
and future, will one day regret the consequences of his lacklustre
attitude, not only to the detriment of the family name, but also to
the detriment of his children's future , thereby endangering their
future as his progenity, if proper care is not taking or given to
their proper training and upbringing as his wards, has indeed failed
woefully as a Father.
"Mr. President, we as a Council of Bishops Globally point it out to
you on this day openly, without fear or favour that, you as a leader
of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has failed , not to deliver on your
campaign and constitutional promises, as the number one Chief Security
Officer of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to uphold, defend the
sovereignty, the territorial integrity, and security of the Nigerian
Nation and its Citizens. But what do we see and hear, you only visit
each of these troubled States that have been under the attacks of the
Fulani herdsmen, without taking a permanent decisive solution to the
spate of killings across the Nigerian State in the future, not minding
whose ox is gored. The Ball is still in your court either to do as it
pleases You, or to act rightly as it is expected of you as enshrined
in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as All
Nigerians are closely watching, and judging your actions and
misactions in the secrets of their hearts against 2019 elections.
"You are duty bound to ensure the safety of every life and properties
of the citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and that one life
in this nation Nigeria counts and matters a whole lot. If you decide
to go as you will, posterity shall never forgive or forget you. Wisdom
demands you take queue and learn from the mistakes of Nigeria's past
leaders and do the right thing that Nigeria as a Nation expects of
you.
"Also, a group of persons or collective individuals who, take laws
into their hands through maiming, shedding of innocent blood, and
destroying the lives and properties of citizens of a Nation like
Nigeria, should be counted as a terrorist group.
"To this effect, We employ, the United Nations(UN), Africa Union (AU),
European Union (EU), the Economic Community of West Africa (ECOWAS),
and the Nigerian State to view and list the Miyetti Allah group via
the Fulani Special Force and the Fulani Nationality Movement (FUNAM)
as a terrorist organization henceforth, as they have remained
unrepentant, and no decisive legal and official governmental action
have been taken as a Nation to put to stop their dastardly and heinous
acts against humanity and Nigerians as a whole. Justice and Protection
of ordinary Nigerians are the inalienable rights of All Nigerians
irrespective of religion, social, political class and status,
educational attainments, etcetera.
"More also, it is pertinent to not that, with the spate of killings of
unarmed innocent Nigerians across the length and breadth of the
Nigerian State that, a State Police be enacted and created, and not to
be always dependent on Federal might, with a view to, combat , reduce,
and defend each of the troubled and 36 States of Nigeria's Federation
that are under constant attacks by the herdsmen militia, and the
unrepentant insurgents all over the Nigerian State covering each of
the 6 geopolitical zones of Nigeria nationwide.
" As the Inspector General of Police, nor the Chief of Defence Staff
and Army Staffs, cannot achieve the security of lives and properties,
and territorial integrity of the Nigerian State, and Nigerians alone,
as can be seen how many Soldiers, Police, and security operatives that
were previously deployed lost their lives unceremoniously, as they are
suffering in some sort, especially those of them in the hard hit
insurgent troubled States, they also need our collective, communal
support and assistance as well."
RELATED TOPICS:BUHARIPLATEAU MASSACREPRESIDENTWORLD BISHOPS
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