Bishops of Nigeria’s Kaduna Province Deplore Religious Extremism, Urge “nobility of faith”

The militia, one of largest Islamist groups in Africa, has been orchestrating indiscriminate attacks on various targets, including religious and political groups as well as civilians.

The country’s insecurity has been worsened by the involvement of the largely Muslim Fulani herdsmen, also known as the Fulani Militia, who have been clashing frequently with Christians.

In their August 15 statement signed by Archbishop Matthew Man’so Ndagoso and Bishop John Namaza Niyiring, the Chairman and Secretary of the Kaduna Ecclesiastical Province respectively, the Catholic Bishops bemoan the fact that Christians as well as other Nigerians have “suffered tremendously since we entered this ugly face in the life of our nation.”

“Our Church leaders have been kidnapped, tortured and in some cases, gruesomely murdered for no reason other than that they bear the cross of Christ,” they say.

In the face of insecurity challenges, the Catholic Bishops of Kaduna Ecclesiastical Province urge all believers in Africa’s most populous nation to “stand together in brotherhood and sisterhood to redeem our faiths.”

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They also urge religious leaders in the West African nation to “stand together in their total condemnation of this evil.”

The Catholic Bishops declare a week of prayer and fasting from August 15 through August 22 and further call upon all Catholic faithful “to stand firmly committed to a life of obedience to the will of God by prayer and adoration as they lift up their hands to God in thanksgiving at all times.” 

“We appeal to you to note what the holy rosary has done in times of crisis, from the battle of Lepanto to the collapse of the Soviet Union,” they say and encourage Catholics to continually pray for their country, Nigeria.

They say, “Like the walls of Jericho, we believe that in the end, these walls of evil will collapse based on our faith, not physical weapons. We are convinced that when these dark clouds clear, we will emerge stronger and victorious.”

To the Christians of other denominations, the Catholic Bishops of Kaduna Ecclesiastical Province urge to unite in prayer with Catholics. 

“We appeal to all who call on the name of Jesus to unite with us in prayer so that amidst these tragedies, our faith will not be shaken and the cross of Jesus will bring us victory and glory to our land. We have borne a lot, but we are not bowed. The cross of Jesus is before us,” they say. 

The Bishops also caution all followers of Christ against bearing bitterness against anyone.

Magdalene Kahiu is a Kenyan journalist with passion in Church communication. She holds a Degree in Social Communications from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA). Currently, she works as a journalist for ACI Africa.