The leader of Nigeria’s catholic church has made a plea for peace and dialogue as the country faces violence, economic crisis, and the threat of famine in the north east, where militants continue to carry out attacks.
The call comes at a time of heightened tension amid reports that three suicide bombers died after detonating explosives under a petrol tanker on the outskirts of the north eastern city of Maiduguri on 3 March. No other casualties were reported.
Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama of Jos painted a bleak picture of the country but stressed that faith could help build bridges and bring healing to a fractured society, in his Lenten message, a copy of which was sent to the Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need.
He wrote: “Our contemporary society, polluted by social vices, needs renewal. Sin is rationalised. Violence is institutionalised.”
Militant groups in the Niger Delta renewed their terror campaign against foreign energy companies in August 2016.
Amid reports that Nigeria’s economic crisis is the worst in decades, Yakubu Dogara, Speaker of the House of Representatives, last month linked Nigeria’s ongoing economic recession to the activities of the region’s militia groups.
Nigeria has experienced ongoing violence. Since 2009 Islamist militant group Boko Haram has been carrying out a campaign of terror, mainly in the north east, which has left at least 20,000 dead and more than 2.6 million displaced.
Despite Government troops liberating areas from the group’s control, attacks continue.
Boko Haram attacks have led to tensions between Christians and Muslims.
“We need more genuine dialogue across ethnic, religious and political boundaries, ” wrote Archbishop Kaigama, who is president of the country’s bishops’ conference and the regional Episcopal conference for West Africa.
“A lot of work is being done to foster peace, to stamp out violence and ensure orderliness and brotherliness in different parts of Nigeria where today misunderstanding based on religious, ethnic or economic reasons cause us a lot of drawback.
The prelate stressed that Christianity teaches its adherents to build bridges by loving and serving those around them.
Archbishop Kaigama wrote: “The beauty of Christianity is that it breaks down barriers, demolishes walls erected by ethnic or regional prejudices. If we welcome God but fail to welcome our brothers and sisters we are only Christians by half."
He stressed the need for Christians to live out their faith – and to witness to it in the way they lived their lives: “Our Christian religion teaches us to care about others, overcoming evil with good.”
In conclusion he prayed that God would empower believers to help with the renewal of Nigeria.
He wrote: “May the Lord give us the grace to be active players in cleaning the face of our distorted, bloodied and corrupted society and may we all experience the mercy of God powerfully during this Lenten Season and beyond.”
PICTURE: Long queues form at a food distribution point in the Muna Garage refugee camp in Maidugrui, Nigeria, 24 October 2016. The camp is occupied by Nigerians who have fled from areas in which the terror group Boko Haram is established.
Loading ...
