F
or the second time in less than
three years, the Catholic Bish-
ops Conference of Nigeria,
CBCN has once again directed
the clergy religious and lay faithful to
embark on a protest to register their
disdain for the worsening insecurity in
the country.
However, unlike the previous which
was held across the various dioceses
in the country, this one will come up
in Abuja, the nation’s federal capital,
according to a release by the Catholic
Secretariat of Nigeria.
“The peaceful protest march will
take place during the Catholic Bishops
Conference of Nigeria gathering be-
tween March 1 to March 6, 2020 where
all the Bishops will lead the March
with priests, religious and lay faithful
of Abuja Archdiocese and those who
can join them…”
The statement further directed that
Catholics in other dioceses in the
country are to observe abstinence and
fasting on Ash Wednesday February
26, 2020. They are to put on black
clothing or wear a black arm band to
signify they are mourning all victims
of kidnapping, banditry, and incessant
killings in the country.
In Lagos, the Chief Shepherd, Most
Rev Alfred Adewale Martins has also
directed the clergy, religious and faith-
ful to comply with the CBCN direc-
tive…”To dress in black or at the least
wear black arm bands as a sign of
mourning and solidarity with the vic-
tims of kidnapping and other violent
crimes that betray the high level of in-
security in the land.”
He also approved for the statement
of the Catholic Bishops Conference
of Nigeria to be read at all Masses on
Ash Wednesday. The Archdiocese,
he further stated, shall participate in
the National prayer procession that
will come up later, on a date to be an-
nounced.
This is coming amidst the backdrop
of the recent killing of an 18 year old
seminarian, Michael Nnadi who was
earlier kidnapped alongside three of
his mates at Kaduna. While his mates
were released, Michael was not that
lucky as he was tortured and slain by
his abductors.
Michael Nnadi, an orphan, and a
native of Imo State, was laid to rest in
Kaduna last Tuesday after a very sol-
emn funeral that attracted thousands
of mourners, including the very top
echelon of the Catholic Church in Ni-
geria.
A picture of his bloated body which
went viral, had sent a wave of shock,
coupled with disdain across the coun-
try, particularly amongst Christians
who, in recent times, have been at the
receiving end of vicious attacks by gun
trotting herdsmen and members of the
Boko Haram sect.
The planned protest by the CBCN is
part of a practical effort to show their
disdain for the arbitrary killings in the
country and to compel the authorities
to live up to their constitutional respon-
sibilities of safeguarding the lives of Ni-
gerians.
In a recent statement signed by the
CBCN President, Archbishop Augus-
tine Akubeze and Secretary, Most Rev.
Camillus Umoh, the group painted a
very damning picture of insecurity in
the country.
“The repeated barbaric executions of
Christians by the Boko Haram insur-
gents and the incessant cases of kid-
napping for ransom linked to the same
group and other terrorists have trauma-
tised many citizens. That the perpetra-
tors of these heinous crimes make pub-
lic shows of them on social media and
Nigerians do not hear of any arrests or
prosecution of the criminals raises very
serious questions about the ability and
willingness of the government to protect
the lives of the ordinary Nigerians. To
make matters worse, many communi-
ties are constantly threatened, harassed
and sometimes even sacked by herds-
men, as they seek to forcefully take over
more territories for the purpose of graz-
ing their cattle.“
The CBCN therefore appealed to the
Government to immediately put a stop
to this unprecedented wave of violence
and brutality aimed particularly at
Christians.
It also called for the arrest and prose-
cution of all those behind these senseless
killings that sow the dangerous seeds
of hate and distrust among the various
segments of the Nigerian society.
