Bishops task FG, Catholic church on IDP's across border

The Cameroonian Bishops Council has tasked the federal government and the Nigerian Catholic Church to expedite action in providing succour for the Nigerian refugees in Cameroon.

In a letter to the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), signed by the leader of the Cameroonian Bishops, the group expressed growing concern over the plight of displaced Nigerians in Cameroon and efforts by the Catholic Church there to assist.

Narrating the ordeal of the displaced Nigerians in Cameroon, CBCN President and Archbishop of Jos, Ignatius Kaigama, explained that the letter from the Cameroonian Bishops called for assistance from the Nigerian government and the Catholic Church in order to save the displaced Nigerians from further suffering.

To that end, Kaigama called on President Goodluck Jonathan to see the conditions of the IDPs in Cameroon and those scattered around the country as a source for concern.

He appealed to the president to assist in the efforts of the church to intervene and reach out to the displaced persons currently in Cameroon.

The CBCN president had earlier highlighted the contributions of the Catholic Church, stating that, "we have been very attentive to the plight of the IDPs through Catholic Caritas Foundation of Nigeria (CCFN) and other initiatives of dioceses as our little contribution to what President Goodluck Jonathan's government and other concerned relevant organisations and groups are doing.

"Our fervent prayer is that Nigeria's situation may quickly improve so that all displaced people may comfortably resettle in their homes and abodes," Kaigama submitted.

Before the end of the opening session of the Bishops' conference, it was learnt that Jonathan had pledged to assist the Catholic Bishops so as to enable them give help to IDPs in Cameroon.