Planned Protests against Kidnapping, Killing in Nigeria’s Auchi Diocese “to honour our martyrs”: Convener

The march is expected to feature a rosary procession and a candlelight vigil in memory of victims, including Fr. Christopher Odia and Seminarian Peter Andrew all murdered in captivity, the convener of the protests told ACI Africa. 

She went on to highlight the goal of the protests, saying, “You know, every protest has an objective. To the government, they should meet our demands; we demand that they should deploy securities everywhere, maybe some strategic areas, so that we will be safe and they will not be attacking us again.”

“If the government pays attention to our cries or our voices, I think things are going to change,” Ms. Obozuwa said. 

She emphasized the peaceful nature of the planned protests and urged participants to follow guidelines and avoid any actions that could undermine the purpose of the demonstrations.

Those to participate in the protests, she said, “should not do anything (that) constitutes a nuisance. They should just follow the guideline and do the normal thing that we have set off to achieve. They should not do anything that will affect the objective of the protest.”

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The insecurity in Edo State has particularly affected the Catholic Clergy, whom kidnappers see as easy targets due to their connections to wealthy individuals, Ms. Obozuwa noted, and explained, “They know Priests don’t have security details like politicians, so they kidnap them for huge ransoms.”

As a Catholic and a member of the affected community, she reaffirmed her commitment to the cause, saying, “My church is being attacked. My community is being attacked. That is why I said no; I’m not backing down.”

The planned peaceful protests are to begin in front of the Immaculate Conception Cathedral of Auchi Diocese, and culminate at Jattu Junction, the designated protest ground.

In another interview with ACI Africa, the Local Ordinary of Auchi Diocese, Bishop Gabriel Ghiakhomo Dunia, said that the planned protests are a call on the government to take action against killings and kidnappings in Edo State.

“The protest is just a call on the government to have political will, to empower the military, to flush the kidnappers and the killers as men, to clear them from the forest,” Bishop Dunia told ACI Africa on March 24.

He noted that the kidnappers themselves admit they are working for unidentified figures. “They are saying that they were sent by people. If they are not doing the work for themselves, they are not doing it for the government either. The government must prove this by ensuring that the forests are cleared of kidnappers and killers,” the Catholic Church leader said.

Bishop Dunia further noted that those responsible for the atrocities are known but remain unpunished.  

“We even know the people who are responsible for this. The confession of the kidnappers when they are communicating is that they are set. They are working for people. If they are not set by the government, let the government can neutralize their actions,” he said. 

He underscored the need for vigilance and faith, saying, “My message to the faithful is that they should trust in God and be security conscious. Since they have nobody to really defend them, and the government has failed to secure life and property, they must protect themselves.”

As the Diocese observes the Lenten season, the Local Ordinary of Auchi urged Catholics not to lose hope. 

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“They should trust in God and believe fearlessly at all times. Whatever is happening negatively, there is hope, and God will deliver us. Let them not lose faith,” the Local Ordinary of Auchi Diocese since his Episcopal Consecration in February 2003 said.

Abah Anthony John contributed to this story.

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