The Catholic Bishop of Jalingo Diocese, Most Rev Charles Hammawa on Sunday solicited the collaboration of stakeholders at all levels to match words with actions to end insecurity in Nigeria.
Hammawa made the charge while delivering a homily at the graduation of catechists at the Catholic Catechetical Training Institute in Jimlari near Jalingo.
The bishop said, “The world has never been without challenges, but the challenges facing Nigeria now are enormous.
“The growing insecurity in Nigeria is worrisome and needs to be urgently addressed.
“In Taraba State, the crisis is quite disturbing and the Catholic Church is always the worst hit anytime it erupts.
“At present, many parishes in our diocese are closed. Many lives have been lost in these crises and valuable property destroyed.
“This situation calls for action. We need to tell ourselves the truth to be able to defeat the forces of evil that are working against the peace and security of Nigeria,” he said.
The cleric also charged the graduands to be objective and fearless in discharging their duties for the good of the church and the society.
In his remarks, the Director of the institute, Rev Fr Simon Akuraga thanked the bishop for his constant support to the institute and for allowing him to be involved in the formation of grassroots leaders.
Akuraga noted that leadership deficit was one of the greatest challenges facing the country, adding that there were a lot of ungoverned spaces in Nigeria, which need to be filled for the good of the country and that the graduands will fill some of the spaces.
“Talking about leadership deficit in Nigeria, how would you explain a situation where people are displaced from their ancestral lands for over two years and those who have the constitutional and primary duties to protect lives and property are nonchalant.
“As I speak, some citizens have completely lost hope in their elected leaders and are seeking justice in courts. As a church, we have a responsibility to give such people hope,” he said.
Nigerian Tribune correspondent reports that 25 trained catechists who graduated at the occasion were commissioned to commence work in communities across Taraba State.
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