By Tony Obiechina, Abuja

Catholic Bishops have called on Governments at all levels to rise and checkmate the proliferation of small arms as insecurity rages unabated in the country.

The Catholic Bishops spoke in Abuja on Sunday at the start of the second plenary of a retreat of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN).

They decried the terror regularly unleashed on communities by bandits, religion extremists and other gunmen.

“Governments should urgently check the proliferation of small arms and light weapons facilitated by the booming business of gunrunning which fuels insecurity in our country.

“It does not make sense to disarm the populace while armed criminals terrorise unarmed citizens,’’ President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) Archbishop Lucius Ugorji, said.

 “We appeal to kidnappers and their sponsors and to those who unleash violence in our communities to have a change of heart and shun all forms of criminality to avoid God’s wrath.

“We also strongly denounce the mindless and reckless spilling of blood and destruction of property in our communities by hardened criminals and some trigger-happy government security operatives.

“The shedding of innocent blood is an abomination. God hates hands that shed innocent blood,’’ he stressed.

Ugorji also spoke on the state of the economy  and said while the economy was declining, the masses continued to suffer just as crime rate increased.

“We cannot get tired of urging government to rise to its primary responsibility of securing the lives and property of its citizens,’’ he said.

The archbishop also  said he was hopeful that future elections in Nigeria would be decided at the polls and not at the courts.

He appealed to governments at all levels to cut the cost of governance and to address deepening poverty and growing youth unemployment.

Ugorji also advised  the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union (AU) on rising pace of military intervention in the governance of some African states..

“We appeal to the leadership of ECOWAS and the AU to resist the temptation of recognising military intervention as solution to leadership crisis in Africa.

“They should continue to explore the more peaceful option of diplomatic negotiations.

“Such dialogues may require due attention to the causes of rising military interventions in African countries.

“While we denounce coups, we must state loud and clear that political leadership exists to promote the common good.

“Consequently, political leaders incapable of furthering the welfare of their citizens or who work against their peoples’ interests and wellbeing have no moral justification to continue in power, whether elected or not,’’ he said.

In an addressing  at the retreat, General Secretary of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Prof. Samson Fatokun, commended the Catholic bishops for their commitment to peace and unity in Nigeria.

Fatokun represented the CAN president, Archbishop Daniel Okoh at the retreat.

He commended the CBCN for constantly making interventions by raising prophetic voice on crucial national issues.

He noted that Nigeria was still buffeted on all sides by issues that threatened its collective existence.

He said it was incumbent on faith leaders to provide hope and guidance for the faithful and for the citizenry at large.

“This plenary session is coming at a time when Nigerians are still going through excruciating pains, harsh economic climate banditry and kidnapping.

“Prices of basic necessities have skyrocketed beyond the reach of ordinary people and there appears not to be any respite in sight.

“The living conditions of average Nigerian families today are better imagined than experienced.

“It is indeed a time to worry! In all these, I believe that God Almighty will use faith leaders to fix this country if we do not give up,’’ he said.  

Commander Vows to Fish Out Killers of Catholic Seminarian

Maj.-Gen. Abdusalam Abubakar, the Commander of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), has vowed to arrest the killers of Na’aman Stephen, a Catholic seminarian.

The commander, who doubles as the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 3 Division of the Nigeria Army, Rukuba, near Jos, made the promise at an interactive session with stakeholders on Sunday in Zango-Kataf.

Gunmen killed Na’aman when they attacked the rectory of St Raphael Catholic Church, Fadan-Kamatan of Zango-Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

The seminarian was killed on Thursday night when the criminals set the rectory ablaze after a failed kidnap attempt on the two priests working in the parish.

Abubakar, who described the incident as ”unfortunate”, also promised to end all criminal activities in the area.

”I didn’t sleep when the news got to me, but we did our best that night.

”It is quite unfortunate, but I want to assure you that we will bring the perpetrators to book,” he promised.

The commander called on religious leaders to desist from sermons capable of inciting violence.

He also urged the people to forgive each other, eschew violence and embrace peace and peaceful coexistence.

He further advised the youths to desist from drug abuse, insisting that high intake of illicit drugs had contributed greatly to the ongoing security challenges in the country.

Abubakar called on the people to support and cooperate with the military and other security agencies as they strive toward ensuring lasting peace in all parts of the state. ((additional reports from NAN)