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Catholic Church in Nigeria

Members of RECOWA present their final communiqué to journalists in Abuja on 7 May 2022. Credit: ACI Africa

Catholic Bishops in West Africa “denounce policies” Allowing Exploitation, Marginalization

May 9, 2022

Catholic Bishops in West Africa have, in the final communiqué of their fourth RECOWA Plenary Assembly, denounced “policies and practices” that give room to exploitation of populations and marginalization of persons.

Members of the Regional Episcopal Conference of West Africa (RECOWA) at the closing Mass of their fourth plenary assembly in Abuja, Nigeria on 8 May 2022. Credit: ACI Africa

RECOWA Plenary Assembly Ends with Commitment “to new vision of fraternity”

May 8, 2022

Members of the Regional Episcopal Conference of West Africa (RECOWA) have, in their message at the end of their fourth Plenary Assembly, taken the commitment to work for a new fraternity in the West African subregion amid a wide range of challenges.

Fr.Joseph Akete Bako. Credit: Father Emmanuel Anyanwu

Mixed Signals as Nigerian Catholic Archdiocese Disputes Abducted Priest Murder Allegations

May 8, 2022

Conflicting reports have emerged describing the fate of a Catholic Priest who was kidnapped in Nigeria’s Catholic Archdiocese of Kaduna, with some sources alleging that the Priest has been tortured to death in captivity.    

Yemi Osinbajo, ice President of Nigeria addressing participants at the fourth RECOWA Plenary Assembly that opened on Tuesday, May 3 in Nigeria’s Abuja Archdiocese. Credit: CSN

Catholic Bishops in West Africa Urged to Build “bridges across every divide”, Foster Peace

May 7, 2022

The President of Nigeria has called upon Catholic Bishops under the Regional Episcopal Conference of West Africa (RECOWA), to “bridges across every divide” in West African nations and foster peace to safeguard the countries therein from fracturing.

Fr. Timothy Ngwuta. Credit: Courtesy Photo

Catholic Priest of Abakaliki Diocese in Nigeria Released on Bail after Months in Detention

May 6, 2022

The Catholic Priest of Abakaliki Diocese in Nigeria who stands accused of murder, among other acts of violence in the West African country, has been “released on bail”, the Chancellor of the Nigerian Diocese has said.

Fr. Felix Zakari Fidson, abducted in Nigeria's Zaria Diocese on 24 March 2022. Credit: Courtesy Photo

Joy, Gratitude as Catholic Priest in Nigeria Released after 40 Days of Abduction

May 5, 2022

The Catholic Diocese of Zaria in Nigeria has announced “with joy” the release of Fr. Felix Zakari Fidson who has been in captivity for forty days.

Archbishop Antonio Guido Filipazzi addressing participants during the fourth RECOWA Plenary Assembly that started on May 3 in Abuja, Nigeria. Credit: Courtesy Photo

End “tribalism, all other forms of division”: Nuncio in Nigeria to Bishops in West Africa

May 5, 2022

The Apostolic Nuncio in Nigeria has called on Catholic Church leaders in the 16 West African countries that make up the Regional Episcopal Conference of West Africa (RECOWA) to make every effort to end “tribalism and all other forms of division” that seem to be on the rise in Catholic communities.  

Archbishop-elect Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji addressing participants at the Plenary Assembly of the Regional Episcopal Conference of West Africa (RECOWA) on Tuesday, May 3. Credit: CNS

Challenges to Peace in West Africa “demand” Coming Together, Solidarity: Archbishop-elect

May 5, 2022

The challenges to peace in the countries of West Africa require that stakeholders come together “in solidarity as a human family to address them,” the President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), Archbishop-elect Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji has said.

Archbishop Ignatius Ayau Kaigama addressing participants during the plenary assembly of the Regional Episcopal Conference of West Africa (RECOWA). Credit: CSN

Leaders in West Africa “must use political power” for Good Governance: RECOWA President

May 4, 2022

The President of the Regional Episcopal Conference of West Africa (RECOWA), the common forum of the Catholic Bishops from 16 West African countries, has called on political leaders in the African region to use their authority to foster good governance, and for the “common good”.

Red Confidential/Shutterstock.

Catholic Bishop in Nigeria Directs “a more vigorous May devotion” to Mary for Peace

May 1, 2022

Bishop Emmanuel Adetoyese Badejo of Nigeria’s Oyo Diocese has directed the people of God under his pastoral care to “a more vigorous May devotion to the mother of Jesus” for an end to violent conflicts globally and in the West African nation.

Christian leaders in Nigerian State Decry Government Indifference to Train Attack Victims

Apr 30, 2022

Christian leaders in Nigeria’s Kaduna State have expressed disappointment at the way their country’s government seems indifferent to the plight of the victims of the March 28 Abuja-Kaduna train attack. 

Bishop Godfrey Onah of Nigeria’s Nsukka Diocese. Credit: Nsukka Diocese

Nigerian Catholic Bishop Urges Parents to Embrace Sacrifice, Foster “stability of family”

Apr 28, 2022

A stable society is a product of stable families, the Catholic Bishop of Nsukka Diocese in Nigeria has said, and called upon parents to embrace sacrifice as they bring up their children. 

Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama with a group of Christians at Divine Mercy Pastoral area of Abuja Archdiocese. Credit: Abuja Archdiocese

Involve Women in “policy-making strategies” about Insecurity: Archbishop in Nigeria

Apr 27, 2022

Women need to be involved in the “policy making strategies” about insecurity and other vices that Nigeria is grappling with, a Catholic Archbishop in the West African country has said.

Mubarak Bala. Credit: CSW

Christian Entity Rallying for Protests against Harsh Sentencing of Nigerian Activist

Apr 27, 2022

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), a UK-based human rights agency, is appealing to people who support the right to freedoms of expression and religion to participate in an ongoing protest against what the entity has referred to as a harsh sentencing of an activist in Nigeria.

Fr. Timothy Ngwuta. Credit: Courtesy Photo

Nigerian Diocese Demands Release of Priest Accused of Murder, Urges Thorough Investigation

Apr 25, 2022

The Catholic Diocese of Abakaliki in Nigeria has decried what it terms as a wrongful arrest of a member of her Clergy who has been accused of murder, among other acts of violence in the West African country.

Mass burial for victims of persecution in Nigeria. Credit: Intersociety

Alarm as Over 6,000 Christians “hacked to death” in Nigeria in Fifteen Months: Report

Apr 23, 2022

A total of 6,006 Christians in Nigeria were hacked to death from January 2021 to March 2022, a recent investigation has established, noting that the number has doubled in recent years.

Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of Nigeria's Sokoto Diocese. Credit: Sokoto Diocese

Nigerian Bishop’s "controversial" Easter Message Was Prophetic, Catholic Priest Says

Apr 22, 2022

A U.S-based Catholic Priest has come to the defense of a Nigerian Bishop whose Easter 2022 Message has triggered controversy, with a State official accusing the Catholic Church leader of being extremely critical of the government and getting too involved in politics.

Late Ambrose Sule laid to rest 21 April 2022 in Owerri Archdiocese. Credit: Br. Ferdinand Mary Nguaan

Seminarian’s Last Words on Good Friday Will Live on in Nigeria: Catholic Priest at Burial

Apr 21, 2022

Many will remember Ambrose Sule, the Nigerian Seminarian who died on Good Friday, as a dedicated, “silently brilliant” and well-articulated young man. 

Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of Nigeria’s Sokoto Diocese. Credit: Courtesy Photo

Catholic Bishop in Nigeria Says He Speaks “to invoke conversation”, Not to Attract Support

Apr 20, 2022

The Bishop of Nigeria’s Sokoto Diocese known for speaking boldly against failures in good governance has said that he does not speak to gain followers but “to invoke conversation”.

The controversial Easter advert comparing the resurrection of Christ with the rising of Agege Bread. Credit: Courtesy Photo

Nigerian Christian Leaders Call for Dismissal of Bank CEO amid Controversial Easter Advert

Apr 20, 2022

Christian leaders in Nigeria are calling for the termination of the Chief Executive Officer of the country’s Sterling Bank after the finance institution aired a controversial Easter advertisement.