Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Abuja (Agenzia Fides) - "Nowhere else in the world do people die as in our country. There is no place in the world where citizens can be killed every day without the government showing the slightest sign of empathy or concern for what is happening", said Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of Sokoto in the homily at the funeral mass of Fr. Alphonsus Bello, the priest found dead after being kidnapped on May 20 in the nightly assault to the parish of St. Vincent Ferrer in Malunfashi, in Katsina State. Don Joe Keke, who is still in the hands of the kidnappers, was kidnapped with him (see Fides, 21/5/2021).
"I think the President of Nigeria and several governors can actually turn to Nigerians and say: dear Nigerians, I have sworn that I will not protect you. I will not protect you from foreign invaders, I will not protect you from being killed. I will not protect you from kidnappings, I will not protect you from bandits, I will not protect you from kidnappers", says the bishop
The plague of mass kidnapping of students affects children of all religious faiths. It was not until Sunday, May 30th, that over 100 pupils at an Islamic school in the state of Niger in northwestern Nigeria were kidnapped from a school in Tegina by a group of armed men arrived on motorcycles.
Our politicians - continues Mgr. Kukah - have unfortunately not committed themselves to the democratic ideals of integration, diversity, good governance and the implementation of the principles of a democratic society".
"The politicians - he added - had reached out to their supporters and stated that they will institutionalize a theocratic state in Nigeria by creating a Sharia state in Nigeria ... Now we have so much bloodshed fueled by false promises".
"As Christians, regardless of the violence in our society, we must remain faithful to God's promises. As Christians, we remember that only the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ gives us hope", the bishop concluded.
The Nigerian Bishops' Conference had already warned in February (see Fides, 24/2/2021) that "Nigeria is in danger of breaking up due to the serious insecurity that is widespread in the Federation". (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 1/6/2021)
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