Buhari hosts Catholic bishops in a bid to calm tempers over Fulani herdsmen attacks

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has held a closed door meeting with Catholic bishops in the presidential villa as part of a charm offensive aimed at soothing Christian nerves following the recent massacre of 48 innocent people by Fulani herdsmen in Enugu State.

 

Last week, Fulani herdsmen invaded Ukpabi-Nimbo community in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State in a gruesome attack that 48 people dead. Following on from similar nationwide attacks, the massacre has attracted widespread condemnation and President Buhari has come under fierce criticism for doing nothing about it.

 

Apart from the fact that security agents have failed to do anything to stop the attacks, President Buhari, an ethnic Fulani himself who rears cattle, has been silent about the crisis so far. Under pressure to do something, President Buhari met with 16 Catholic bishops behind closed doors at the presidential villa in Abuja yesterday.

 

Members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBNC), the clergymen were believed to have asked for the meeting to discuss the growing menace of Fulani herdsmen attacks. The meeting, which started at about 9pm, was also attended by vice president Professor Yemi Osinbajo and the secretary to the government of the federation Babachir Lawal.

 

Last week, the Archbishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, was attacked by suspected herdsmen along the Benin-Ekpoma Road while returning from attending the 10th anniversary both of the creation of Diocese of Uromi and the ordination of Bishop Augustine Akubueze of the Benin Diocese. This attack drew outrage from the Catholic faithful and the Bishop of Uromi Diocese, Dr Donatus Ogun, appealed to President Buhari to speedily tackle the issue of the growing cruelty of Fulani herdsmen.

 

Among the bishops who attended yesterday's meeting were CBNC president Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama, Cardinal Onaiyekan, the  Bishop of Sokoto Matthew Hassan Kukah, Archbishop of Benin City Augustine Akubeze and Bishop of Nsukka Diocese Godfrey Onah. Other were bishops Felix Alaba Job, Anthony Obina, Valerian Okeke, Gabriel Abegunrin, Matthew Ndagoso, Lucius Ugorji, William Ayenya,  John Nyiring, Camilius Umoh, Ralph Madu and John Okoye.