The Carnage Must Stop, Catholic Bishops Warn …200 Igbos Lost To Insurgency – Group

Muslims Shouted defend themselves – Imam Ripples of last Friday’s bomb blast at the Kano Central Mosque continued as the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigerian said that the blast was not only shocking but saddening. They also said that the senseless killing in the name of religion must stop.
In a statement signed by the Secretary of the Conference, Rev. Father Ralph Madu, the Catholic Bishops said that it was unfortunate and sad that the incident has added to the scores of painful conditions that have been inflicted on ordinary Nigerians by agents of darkness who claim to fight in the name of religion.
The Bishops, in condoling with the victims, said, “Our hearts bleed when we realize that the casualty figures of the dead have risen up to 120, not to talk of the increased number of those who sustained first degree injuries and are lying critically at various hospitals in Kano.”
They commiserated with the Government and People of Kano State for this monumental loss.
“While praying for the happy repose of the dead, our hearts go to the families of those who have lost their beloved ones. We equally pray for the quick recovery of those who are injured,“ they said.
Meanwhile, the Igbo Welfare Association, a socio-cultural association for indigenes of the five South eastern states residing in Borno State, on Saturday said Boko Haram activities had claimed the lives of over 200 Igbo till date.
The group also alleged that the ethnic group had suffered loss property worth millions of naira to the crisis, which started in 2009 and has yet to abate.
The President General of the association in Borno State, Chief group MaclawNwaogu, said this while delivering his speech at the inauguration of the new executive and award ceremony of IWA on Saturday in Maiduguri.
Nwaogu appealed to Governor KashimShettima to look into the plight of widows and orphans of Ndigbo and other non-indigenes, some of whom had had to leave the state but still carrying the burden of the loss of their breadwinners to the Boko Haram insurgency.
He also called on the governor to fulfill his promise of renovating the association’s hall, which was vandalised by the insurgents.
“In addition, we remain very appreciative when, in your first tenure, you offered us free transport in a season like this. Shortly after that, it’s like the security challenges have affected that gesture. However, with the cream of new Igbo leadership, we call on you to remember our numerous members, who want to travel home to spend this year’s Christmas.”
“It is pertinent to bring to your notice that internally displaced people of Igbo extraction are being catered for by Igbo Welfare Association. We are appealing to your government to help us remedy the situation,” the association president added.
The leader of the socio-cultural association promised to carry everybody along in managing the affairs of the group.
Also, the Council of Imams and Ulamas has call on the Federal Government and its security agencies to bring to an end the wanton destruction of lives and property going on in the country particularly in Kano, Yobe, Borno and Adamawa states and called,on Muslims to defend themselves.
In a statement signed by Sheik Usman Baba Tuni and Ustaz Yusuf Arrigasiyyu, Chairman and Secretary respectively and made available to the media over the weekend in Kaduna, the Council call on all Muslims where ever they are to protect themselves within the ambit of the constitution in the event the Federal Government failed in its responsibility of protecting them.