AFRICA/NIGERIA - More than 100,000 Catholics scattered because of Boko Haram, "but we remain to bear witness with our presence", said a priest of Maiduguri

Wednesday, 19 November 2014

Abuja (Agenzia Fides) - There are more than 100,000 Catholics forced to flee from areas controlled by Boko Haram in northern Nigeria. This was reported to Agenzia Fides by Fr. Gideon Obasogie, Head of Social Communications of the Diocese of Maiduguri (capital of Borno State).
Thousands of displaced people have sought refuge in the mountain caves, says the priest to Fides, only few have managed to escape to Maiduguri and Yola.
"A large number of Nigerians are trapped and forced to follow the strict interpretation of the rules of Sharia in different cities like Bama, Gwoza, Madagali, Gulak, Shuwa, Michika Uba and Mubi. We are talking about towns located along the road that links Maiduguri and Yola to Adamawa State", said Fr. Obasogie. "Terrorists have declared that all conquered cities are part of the Islamic Caliphate".
"Mubi - explains the priest - is a predominantly Christian community and is the second largest mall in Adamawa State after Yola. It has two important parishes: Saint Andrew and the Holy Trinity, as well as two chaplains at the Technical University and the University of Adamawa State".
On October 29, it was a sad day for our diocese", recalls Fr. Obasogie because the 50,000 inhabitants from Mubi were forced to flee from Boko Haram. "A good number of them fled to Cameroon, where they were trapped for days, including five priests and two nuns". "With the fall of Mubi - continues the director of communications of the Diocese of Maiduguri – out of 6 deaneries, 3 are occupied by terrorists".
Despite all this, concludes Fr. Obasogie, "we remain faithful to the teaching of the Church on bearing witness with our presence". See the details on the destruction of Boko Haram published today by Fides. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 19/11/2014)


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