- Catholic bishops seek foreign help for Nigeria
The French Ambassador in Nigeria, Jerome Pasquier, has described as inadequate, efforts by the Federal government to solve the security challenges in the country, especially in the northwest.
Pasquier spoke in Abuja, during a workshop on “Addressing Rural Insecurity and Violence in North-western Nigeria” organised by the Pastoral Reserve, the Search for Common Ground, the Nextier SPD and the French Embassy.
Pasquier, represented by the Head of Cooperation, Embassy of France in Nigeria, Ellien Helios, urged Nigerian authorities and stakeholders to step up actions and devise new approaches.
“There are many factors affecting the northwest region for years now, there are also many actors, but I don’t think there is enough being done by the actors to have a better understanding of the situation and try to find some appropriate solutions to the insecurity and the subsequent sufferings.
“We’ve a unique opportunity to work and listen to people gathering the best expertise on these issues. So, let’s seize this opportunity as a starting point to get humble, but to also develop a better understanding of the issues , strategize response, develop a coordinative approach and increase action,” he said.
Senior Research and Policy Lead, Nextier SPD, Ndubuisi Nwokolo, said the insecurity bedevilling the northern Nigeria should not be seen as a northern problem only, warning that the entire nation could bear the consequences of collective negligence.
According to him, the entire country is at risk of food insecurity due to the unresolved insurgency in the north.
He said dialogue and a regional approach were needed to permanently address the problem.
Meanwhile, the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) says the seeming failure to arrest perpetrators of killings in Nigeria casts doubt on the government’s willingness to protect citizens.
Thus the bishops, through a statement on Wednesday, requested the assistance of the international community in tackling insecurity in Nigeria.
The statement entitled, ‘prayer and penance for peace and security in our country’ was issued by Augustine Akubeze, CBCN president.
There has been growing insecurity in various parts of the country, including the north-west where banditry is spiking and in north-east where Boko Haram insurgency has resurfaced.
The bishops asked the Federal government to end the violence and insecurity which it said have sown the seed of distrust among Nigerians.
“That the perpetrators of these heinous crimes make public shows of them on social media and Nigerians do not hear of any arrests or prosecution of the criminals raises grave questions about the ability and willingness of the government to protect the lives of the ordinary Nigerians,” the statement read.
“We also call for the arrest and prosecution of all those behind these senseless killings that sow the dangerous seeds of hate and distrust among the various segments of the Nigerian society.
“We, therefore, appeal to the government to immediately put a stop to this unprecedented wave of violence and brutality aimed particularly at Christians.
“We also call for the arrest and prosecution of all those behind these senseless killings that sow the dangerous seeds of hate and distrust among the various segments of the Nigerian society.
“We equally appeal to the international community to come to the aid of the Nigerian government in the fight against these daredevil terrorists, who want to graze our country.”
The bishops added that should the security challenges persist, its consequences will be “grave not only for the West African sub-region but also for Africa as a whole”.