We the Catholic Bishops
of Nigeria and with
significant support of
priests, consecrated
persons and our beloved lay faithful
embark on a peaceful protest against
the high level of insecurity in every
part of Nigeria. We are on this peace-
ful protest on behalf of the over 22
million Catholics and over 100 million
Christians in Nigeria. We are protest-
ing against the brutal killings of inno-
cent Nigerians by Boko Haram, and
terrorists’ herdsmen who are invading
people’s farmlands forcefully. We are
gathered here to register our protest
against the kidnapping for ransom in
every part of Nigeria. We are gathered
to mourn the women, children, ba-
bies, and men who have been killed
by the terrorists. We are gathered to
let the Federal Government of Nige-
ria know that we are tired of hearing
from them that Boko Haram has been
“technically defeated” even when they
still attacked with impunity. Many lo-
cal and international security experts
have concluded that the terrorists use
weapons that are very sophisticated.
Our protest is part of our religious
obligation to speak prophetical-
ly against whatever is against God’s
commandment. The killing of God’s
children is evil. The failure to protect
innocent people from relentless at-
tacks is evil. The lack of prosecution
of terrorists is evil. Our Government
response to terrorist attack is, for lack
of better words, far below average.
There have been too many mass bur-
ials. Too many kidnappings of school
children, of travellers, invasion of peo-
ples’ homes, invasion of sacred places
like Churches, mosques, seminary,
etc. We sometimes read of our Gov-
ernment sending condolence messag-
es to western countries when there is
a terrorist attack that may have led to
the death of one or two persons. We
commend the Federal Government
for doing this. But we are utterly sur-
prised to discover that the same Ni-
gerian Federal Government will not
even send a condolence message to
families who have suffered fatalities
in the hands of Boko haram. We see
our President rarely visit or even speak
to Nigerians when there are terrorist
attacks in Nigeria. The several attacks
on the lives of Nigerians are almost a
new normal. Our Government seem
completely insensitive to the plight of
Nigerians. A Government that totally
ignores the cries of those who elected
them is set up for a fantastic failure. It
doesn’t matter which party is in power.
Only recently we have seen that some
of those in the Presidency have dis-
covered that they can no longer go to
some places where they campaigned
before election. They are being booed
by those who once supported them
because these Nigerians feel let down.
To Mr President, Your Excellency,
we are here to let you know that we
pray every day for the success of your
Government in dealing with insecu-
rity in Nigeria. We pray daily for the
Government you lead to bring Nigeri-
ans together and make every Nigerian
feel that they are equal in the country
irrespective of their ethnic or religious
background. We want you to know
that we pray to God to help your Gov-
ernment realise that loyalty to Nigeri-
ans, loyalty to the unity of the country
should trump the desire by some peo-
ple around to fill sensitive top security
positions with people from one section
who shared one religious belief. This is
a recipe for disaster in a multi-ethnic,
and multi-diverse nation. To President
Buhari we say, please listen to the cries
of Nigerians. Listen to the National
Assembly when they, in a unanimous
voice call you to change the security
chiefs. Listen to Muslim leaders who
call for more Government proactive
actions to prevent terrorist attacks in
Nigeria and especially in North East-
ern Nigeria. Mr President, please ask
for foreign help to stop this over 12
years of terrorist attacks on Nigerians.
Mr President stop those who work
with you from politicising the killings
of Nigerians. The bombs of the terror-
ists do not know who is a member of
APC or PDP. Mr President, Nigeria is
a secular State, act to reassure Nigeri-
ans that there is no agenda to Islam-
ize Nigeria. Your silence is breeding
and sowing seeds of mistrust and the
longer it stays this way, the more you
lose those who could have given you
benefit of doubt. Only few Nigerians
can defend you with reasons. Only few
Nigerians can argue that your silence
is not an endorsement of the barbaric
actions of the terrorists.
We as a Church do not support any
political party. We condemn any form
of social injustice perpetuated against
the people. The lack of significant
actions to prevent and secure the re-
lease of those being held in captivity
by Boko haram is unacceptable to
us. We cannot understand why the
Government is not able to secure the
release of the rest of the chibok girls,
the release of Leah Sharibu and oth-
ers still being held. We cannot under-
stand why the Government reaction
to the beheading of Reverend Lawan
Andimi has not shown that there is
going to be any consequences upon
those responsible. Nigerians are tired
of reading of the killing of an orphan
(a seminarian) who was just eighteen
years old. Nigerians are tired of hear-
ing of the inexcusable actions of the
Government in their response to these
and many other sad cases.
We the Catholic Bishops of Nigeria
call on the international communi-
ties to come to the aid of Nigeria. We
must see ourselves as a global family
in the world. The tears and pains of
the helpless persecuted Christians in
Nigeria should be well reported in the
West. Western Journalists and West-
ern Political Leaders should give Boko
Haram the attention they give to oth-
er terrorist groups like Al-Qaeda, and
ISSIS. If the Western media give com-
prehensive steadfast coverage to the
atrocities happening in Nigeria, they
will discover that people are dying dai-
ly in Nigeria from the hands of Boko
Haram about the same way people are
dying in Syria.
As we march and protest today, we
want all Catholics in Nigeria not to be
hopeless. We want Catholics and oth-
er well-meaning patriotic Nigerians
to stand together to fight this terror-
ism. We must speak out against Gov-
ernment inaction and poor response.
We must work and pray for change to
happen in Nigeria. As we entrust our
country Nigeria to God, let us also
entrust the terrorists into the hands of
God. God can change their hearts of
stone to a heart of flesh. Let us pray for
their conversion. Let us pray to God to
help our leaders to have the wisdom
and courage to do what is good for
every Nigerian. Let us eschew every
form of hate speech, or incitement of
violence. Only Love can conquer vio-
lence and hatred. May God bless Nige-
ria. Thank you for your attention.