Catholic Bishops in Nigeria Pay Solidarity Visit to Victims of Attacks in Plateau State

“We have also come to pray with you so that God will heal your wounds and grant total peace to this land, the state and Nigeria in general,” the Archbishop of Jos who led the delegation said.

He noted that “the attacks and killings are beyond human comprehension; so, only God can come to our aid.”

The Archbishop also urged the people “to be prayerful, steadfast and rely on God at all times.”

He consoled those who lost their loved ones and prayed for a quick recovery for the injured.

Archbishop Audu was accompanied by Bishop Michael Gokum of Nigeria’s Pankshin Diocese and Bishop Philip Dung of Shendam Diocese.

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In his address to the victims, Bishop Gokum advised them to “forgive their attackers.”

“If you forgive your attackers, God will be happy and will have pity on this land and bless it,” he said.

Bishop Gokum also urged the people to love and live in peace with their neighbors, devoid of tribal and religious affiliation.

“You must not take revenge; you must not carry out reprisals because it will only make things worse,” he said.

The Catholic Bishops also donated foodstuff and other items to 519 displaced families in the chiefdom to cushion the hardship occasioned by the attacks.

The visit by the Catholic Bishops came days after religious leaders condemned what they described as the rising waves of killings in Nigeria.

In a statement issued December 10, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) condemned the killings of 16 people in a mosque in Niger State on December 8. They also condemned the murder of 23 innocent travelers by terrorists in Sokoto State and many other attacks on citizens by criminals.

"How can people be productive when they are living in perpetual fear of terrorists in their homes and everywhere they go? Security of lives and property is a serious government business but what we are seeing today is how some of our leaders are playing politics with a serious matter that has almost destroyed the peace, joy and hope of the citizens,” the religious leaders said in the statement signed by regional vice chairman of CAN, Rev. John Joseph Hayab.

They said, “The terrorists have taken their crime against Nigerians too far” calling on the federal government and governors in the Northern States to take strong measures “to stop this evil permanently.”

“CAN is appealing to security agencies to stop the unhealthy competition among them and work together in unity for the common good of all Nigerians. Our security agencies have all it will take to defeat these terrorists,” the faith-based leaders added.

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Jude Atemanke is a Cameroonian journalist with a passion for Catholic Church communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Buea in Cameroon. Currently, Jude serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.