Catholic Bishops: Nigerians tired of promises to deal with terrorists

The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has condemned the attack on the Abuja-Kaduna train by suspected terrorists.

The Catholic Bishops said it was difficult to believe that security agencies in the country lack intelligence and the ability to fight and defeat terrorists, adding: “Nigerians are sick of flimsy excuses and bogus promises from the government to deal with terrorists.”

It noted that the failure to arrest or prosecute the assailants has given credibility to the widespread belief that the government is “complacent, helpless or compromising”.

The CBCN stated that terrorists have proven that no one is safe on the Abuja-Kaduna train route anymore.

This was made known via a statement issued by the CBCN President, Most Rev. Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, on Monday.

The Catholic Bishops added that with the consideration of billions of Naira earmarked for security and the fight against terrorism, it was difficult to imagine that a large number of terrorists, who unleashed terror on citizens, can disappear in broad daylight without a trace.

It said: “The train route from Abuja to Kaduna has been the safety net for thousands of travellers commuting between both cities. Now terrorists have proven that no one is safe on that route anymore.

“Just last week, there were also reports that over 200 terrorists on motorbikes brazenly rode through the runway of the Kaduna International Airport in broad daylight, killing at least one person.

“All these occurred shortly after the incessant brutal attacks and killings by faceless terrorists in communities of Southern Kaduna and many other parts of the Middle Belt.

“All these atrocities against the people and the nation happen without a single arrest or prosecution seem to give credibility to the widespread belief that the government is complacent, helpless or compromising.

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“Considering the billions of Naira appropriated for security and the fight against terrorism in recent times, it is difficult to imagine that a large number of terrorists, who unleashed terror on unarmed and law-abiding citizens, candisappear in broad daylight without a trace,” Ugorji stated.

The Catholic Bishops said that as a mark of honour, the government should rise to its primary responsibility of protecting the life and property of its citizens.

“Our country has long teetered on the precipice of a failed state. Government should, therefore, stop trying to play the ostrich as the nation profusely bleeds and take urgent steps to unmask these marauding terrorists and their sponsors without further delay,” it added.

On the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the CBCN said: “Our hearts also reach out to many Nigerian citizens who languish for hours in long queues at gas stations to buy fuel at exorbitant prices.

“With severe hardship surrounding them at every turn, our countrymen and women seem condemned to a life of wanton suffering. They groan daily in pain with anguished hearts and seem resigned to a feeling of hopelessness and helplessness. This is totally unacceptable.”

The Catholic Bishops, therefore, called on the government to be moved by the plight of the citizens and take effective measures to liberate them from avoidable pains and agony.

The Star