Nigerian bishops urge government to get control after church bombings

Nigerian bishops urge government to get control after church bombings

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LAGOS, Nigeria (CNS) -- Catholic leaders condemned the spate of bomb blasts in Nigeria and urged the government to get control of security. Lagos Cardinal Anthony Olubunmi Okogie criticized the government for its failure to protect citizens. Speaking at the dedication of St. Peter Church in Awka, the cardinal said the spate of bombings in a four-day period makes people wonder "what the government is doing with our money. If they cannot protect the lives of its citizens, then why do we have a government?" He said it seemed that "anybody can just do anything they like and go scot free. People have identified themselves as members of Boko Haram, taking credit for bombings; still, nothing is done to them. That means the killings should continue," he said. "I do not believe violence can cure violence, but we must try to halt it there. This is what you get when people are not ready to rule, but are just there to embezzle the money. You cannot keep playing with people's lives," he warned. In Abuja, Archbishop John Olorunfemi Onaiyekan said the quick arrest of those responsible for the deaths would renew people's confidence in the government and its ability to guarantee their security. He urged Nigerian Muslim leaders to assist security agents in exposing those responsible, "as they are giving Islam a bad name." He also told Nigerians not to be afraid to expose those responsible, so as to bring them to justice before they kill more people. He also called for intense prayers for God's intervention to end "this national tragedy." More than 40 people died in Christmas bombings of Christian churches, including St. Theresa Catholic Church in Madalla, just outside of Abuja. The Islamic militant group Boko Haram claimed responsibility for those attacks.

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Source: http://www.georgiabulletin.org/world/2011/12/29/news-6/?s=

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