Peter Ajayi Dada

Nigeria's Catholic bishops urge the federal government to devise a plan to fight flooding that affects Nigerians each year. This year's extensive flooding has affected about 1.4 million people in 27 states, with thousands of homes destroyed and several communities totally submerged.

Nigerian officials identified six suspects arrested in connection with the June 5 attack that killed 40 people at St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo.

Fr. Ferdinand Fanen Ngugban and six others died of gunshot wounds after armed gunmen invaded the grounds of St. Paul Parish in Ayetwar March 30, said the Diocese of Katsina-Ala.

Archbishop Antonio Filipazzi, papal ambassador to Nigeria, said the government was not doing enough to protect its citizens from violence, insurgents and other social vices. He also said the people being killed were not just Christians, but also Muslims.

Nigerian bishops appealed to the government to stop the killings in southern Kaduna state. An Aug. 8 statement signed by Archbishop Augustine Akubeze, conference president, said the bishops "continue to hear of increasing insecurity and unabated acts of terrorism in northern Nigeria. We are all tired of this situation."

Nigeria's Catholic bishops called on voters to prepare to cast their ballots in upcoming elections by reflecting, fasting and praying on how best the country's future can be served.

Nigeria's bishops advised citizens not to sell their permanent voter cards or their votes for the February general elections.

Nigeria's Catholic bishops criticized the president's lack of action against ethnic Fulani herdsmen who attack farmers and linked his inaction to his religion.

Catholic bishops in Nigeria led thousands of people across the country in peaceful protests against repeated killings by herdsmen in a conflict over fertile land.

With at least 80 people killed since the start of the year in conflict over fertile land in Nigeria, the nation's bishops condemned what they call brutal massacres of innocent people.

A trio of Nigerian bishops condemned the enslavement of Nigerians who traveled to Libya for work, calling the practice a horrific abuse of human dignity.