Disturbed by violent clashes between
herders and farmers, Catholic bishops in Benue and Taraba State met on
Sunday at the St. Edward De Confessor Catholic Parish, Kashimbilla in
Takum LGA of Taraba State to pray for God’s intervention.
The prayer session was attended by the Catholic Bishop of Jalingo
Diocese, the Most Rev. Dr. Charles Hammawa, Bishop of Katsina-Ala
Diocese, Rev. Dr. Peter Adoboh and Bishop of Gboko Diocese, Rev. Dr.
Williams Amove Avenya who is also the Secretary of the Catholic Bishops
Conference of Nigeria, (CBCN).
They unanimously told the congregation
that the prayer pilgrimage was not politically motivated, but was
conceived out of genuine concern to look for ways of ensuring peaceful
coexistence among God’s creatures irrespective of their differences.
In his homily at the occasion, Bishop Charles Hammawa of the Jalingo
Diocese condemned insecurity in parts of the country. He said clashes
between herders and farmers in Taraba have brought underdevelopment
which would take the state a long time to recover.
Hammawa urged the government to hold town hall meetings across the
country, especially in the troubled areas, on the need for the people to
live in peace with one another and stop the continuous killings in the
country.
He reminded politicians to promote peace in their communities, saying
those who promote violence and manipulate the laws for cover up would
not manipulate God on judgment day.
The Sarkin Hausawa in Kashimbila, Alhaji Zakari Musa and the Chief of
Kashimbila, John Diokam in their separate remarks, thanked the bishops
for the peace initiative, describing it as the first of its kind in the
country and urged the people to support the move.
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