The Catholic Bishop of Jalingo Diocese, Most Rev Charles Hammawa has observed that it is only when government matches words with actions that insecurity will be curtailed in the country, lamenting that churches are now shutting down over insecurity.
Speaking while delivering a homily at the graduation of Catechists at the Catholic Catechetical training institute in Jimlari, near Jalingo, the Catholic Bishop noted that the world has never been without challenges, but the challenges facing Nigeria now are enormous.
He lamented that the growing insecurity in Nigeria is worrisome and needed to be addressed urgently.
In Taraba, he explained, the crisis is quite disturbing and the Catholic Church is always the worst hit anytime it erupts.
According to him, “At present, many parishes in our diocese are closed, many lives have been lost in these crises and valuable property destroyed.”
He said that the situation calls for action, stressing that Nigerians need to tell themselves the truth to be able to defeat the forces of evil that are working against the peace and security of Nigeria.
The cleric also charged the graduands to be objective and fearless in discharging their duties for the good of the Church and the society.
Earlier, in his remarks, the Director of the institute, Rev. Fr. Simon Akuraga, thanked the Bishop for his constant support for 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 would fill some of the spaces.
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Talking about leadership deficit in Nigeria, he asked how would one 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.
He explained that some citizens have completely lost hope in their elected leaders and are seeking justice in courts, saying that as a Church, they have a responsibility to give such people hope.
25 trained Catechists, who graduated at the occasion were commissioned to commence work in communities across the State.
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