The Catholic bishops of the Niger Delta in Nigeria call for better ways to solve the country’s problems

The Catholic bishops of Nigeria’s Niger Delta have called for better ways to be found in solving the social and economic problems facing the country, saying it will help put an end to the increasing wave of terrorism and insecurity. The call was made in a recent press statement issued by the Niger Delta Catholic Bishops’ Forum in Port Harcourt. In the statement, the forum of bishops condemned all forms of terrorism especially the spate of attacks and killing of innocent people in northeastern Nigeria by the Boko Haram Islamist group. They also condemned the abduction of over 300 school girls from Borno State in mid-April and other deadly attacks carried out by the group in other parts of Nigeria. “The safety and security of all Nigerian citizens and residents cannot be compromised under any guise; not religious, ethnic or ideological,” read the statement signed by Archbishop emeritus of Calabar, His Grace Joseph Ukpo, and Fr. Edward Obi MSP, Chairman and Secretary of the Forum respectively.

According to them, “a holistic approach, which includes addressing not only the symptoms but also the root causes of the problem should be adopted.”

The statement said “in addition to all efforts made to restore peace in the North-East region, there should be a deliberate effort also to improve education, infrastructure, social conditions and to create gainful employment for the teeming youth of that region, as well as Nigeria at large.”

The bishops of the Niger Delta Forum concluded by urging Nigerians to be united and to join hands in resisting any attacks to their common humanity.