Edo North: Bishop urges action against rising insecurity

By Oluseye Ojo

Catholic Bishop of Auchi Diocese, Edo State, Most Rev’d Gabriel Dunia, has appealed to the state and federal governments to tackle the escalating insecurity in Edo North.

Speaking during a sermon to the Catholic community in Auchi, he condemned the recent violence that led to the tragic killing of a seminarian, Peter Andrew, and the abduction of Rev. Fr. Philip Ekweli earlier this year.

Days after a protest by the local Catholic community against the tragic events, Dunia said: “It is disheartening that while government officials are safeguarded, our citizens are left to fend for themselves against the growing threats around them.”

The bishop urged Governor Monday Okpebholo and members of the National Assembly from Edo North to prioritise the security concerns of the region.

He also emphasised the need for leaders to reconnect with their constituencies and take decisive actions to restore safety and peace to the Etsako communities, asserting that “the people deserve more than empty promises.”

Bishop Dunia consoled the grieving families and called for prayers and fasting, especially during the Lenten season, to seek divine intervention in restoring peace.

He reminded the community members of their duty as good citizens, urging them to refrain from taking the law into their own hands.

“Our community is waiting for action, not just words,” he declared, adding that there is an urgent need for governmental attention to the troubling rise in violence in Edo North.