*school shut down
Paul Obi in Abuja
Following the attack by Fulani herdsmen on Sacred Heart Minor Seminary, Jalingo, Taraba State, the Catholic Bishop of Jalingo, Most Rev. Charles Hammawa yesterday said the federal government seems to be doing nothing to stop the killings perpetuated by Fulani herdsmen.
This came as the President Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) and Archbishop of Benin, Most Rev. Augustine Akubeze said the federal government has failed in the area of security.
Akubeze contended that the endless cases of killings by Fulani herdsmen and government lacklustre approach in stopping the barbaric killings glaringly expose the failure of government.
Fulani herdsmen were said to have invaded the Sacred Heart Minor Seminary in Jalingo last Monday where they attacked the Rector, Rev. Fr Emmanuel Atsue, Rev. Fr Stephen Bakari and Rev. Fr Cornelius Kobah.
According to the priests, the attack came after the seminary warned the Fulani herdsmen against grazing in the school environment and surroundings.
But speaking with THISDAY on the attack, Bishop Hammawa stressed that “the attack on the seminary was very surprising, because, the Catholic Church has been loud and clear and the government keeps saying they are not encouraging Fulani herdsmen, they would stop the killings, but nothing seems to be happening.
“These people seem to be having a free hand going on and the government is claiming innocence, we are not hearing any categorical statement,†the bishop maintained.
He observed that in most instances, it is after federal government assurance to stop the killings “that the worst happened.â€
Hammawa argued that though citizens are expected to secure their lives, “the primary responsibility of securing lives and property belongs to the government.â€
Meanwhile, the Catholic Church yesterday shut down the seminary for one week in order to calm down tension and avert further crisis in the area.
