CATHOLIC BISHOPS MEET WITH BUHARI IN ASO ROCK OVER FULANI ATTACKS

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday evening met with 16 Catholic bishops behind closed doors at the presidential villa, Abuja.

The Catholic bishops, who visited President Buhari under the umbrella of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, were believed to have called on the Buhari on the subject of the growing menace of Fulani herdsmen’s attacks in parts of the country.

It will be recalled that the Archbishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, was last week 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 Benin Diocese.

The attack drew outrage from the Catholic faithful, and the Catholic Bishop of Uromi Diocese, Dr. Donatus Ogun, appealed to Buhari to tackle speedily the issue of the growing cruelty of Fulani herdsmen.

The meeting, which started at about 9pm, had in attendance  Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; the secretary to the government of the federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, while leading the delegation of the Bishops is their president, Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama, Cardinal Onaiyekan; Bishop of Sokoto,  Matthew Hassan Kukah;  Archbishop of Benin City, Augustine Akubeze, and Bishop of Nsukka Diocese, Godfrey Onah

Other are 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.