NIGERIA: Despite the per-manent threat of acts of terrorism by the Islamist terrorist group Boko Haram, the faithful in the northern Nigerian Diocese of Maidu-guri “are very brave and have no fear”, Bishop Oliver Dashe Doeme said.
Although the diocese was affected by the attacks on Christians, he said, the faithful nevertheless “very courageously give open witness to their faith”.
Even soon after terror attacks on churches, the people still came “in great numbers” to attend the religious services.
The loyalty of his priests was also “a great encouragement” to him, he said.
“Despite constant mortal danger and threats, our priests stay in their parishes and continue to perform their service,” he said.
He described Boko Haram as “a product of corruption”.
In order to achieve peace it was necessary to combat the corruption prevalent in the country and to provide perspectives for the youth.
Bishop Doeme said certain groups could manipulate those young people who lacked a perspective, whereas young people with a place in society were not so easy to misuse for the ends of others.
“If I told someone to ‘go and kill’, those young people who have a place in society would not do it,” the bishop said.
He said Nigeria was a country rich in resources, yet the corruption as well as the one-sided concentration of the economy on oil extraction while other sectors of the economy, especially agriculture, were not fostered, represented serious disadvantages for the West African country.
“There is great need for action here,” he said.
Bishop Doeme said major challenges for the Church in Northern Nigeria lay in the rebuilding of churches and buildings after terror attacks, as well as in the pastoral care of widows and orphans.
ACN News
