The Catholic Bishop of Maiduguri Diocese, Rt. Rev. Dr. Oliver Doeme Dashe, yesterday said out of the 46 Catholic priests working in Maiduguri Diocese, 20 are currently displaced by Boko Haram attacks.

He also noted that out of the 40 existing parishes 20 have been deserted, adding that out of the six existing Deaneries, three are occupied by the Boko Haram members.

Rt. Rev. Dr. Dashe called on the Federal Government to expedite action towards ending the Boko Haram insurgency or risk its spread across the country.

Speaking to Channels Television in Damaturu, the Yobe State capital, the bishop said the entire north-eastern part of the country, particularly Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states, have been greatly affected by the Boko Haram menace.

Rt. Rev. Dr. Dashe, whose jurisdiction spans across the three states under emergency rule, said the insurgency has paralysed economic, social, religious, agricultural activities in all the affected states, as people continue to wallow in abject suffering and expressed sadness that government seems to be less concerned.

“I wonder what is happening. The government is supposed to be proactive but the Boko Haram is always ahead of the security personnel and even the plans of the government. Something is basically wrong and I am therefore using this opportunity to call on the government to act decisively before this cancer spreads to every part of the body,” the bishop lamented.

He expressed fear that government seems to be surrendering some towns to the insurgents who are advancing gradually, having long taken over Bama, Gwoza, Uba, and now Mubi, apart from several other local government areas in the northern part of Borno.

Also speaking with Channels, Fr. David Bridling, a Catholic priest who was in Mubi during last week’s attack on the town, blamed security forces, saying that instead of repelling the attack, they ran along with the defenceless civilians.

The priest, who said many people died during the attack, stressed that the Federal Government is not committed to ending the dastardly acts of Boko Haram members.

•Photo shows Boko Haram insurgents.

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