BY John Pontifex | October 31 | 
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Nigerian Catholics ‘near desperation’
Catholic leader’s response to latest attack on the Faithful
The leader of Catholics in Nigeria has described how clergy and people alike are at a point of ‘near desperation’ after Sunday Massgoers in the north became the latest victims of extremist violence.
Official Church reports sent to Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need confirm that during Mass last Sunday at St Rita’s Catholic Church, Kaduna, five people including the suicide bomber died and 134 were injured, 75 of them critically. Referring to how the attack was the latest in a series of blasts targeting centres including churches, Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama (above), President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, stressed people’s ‘apprehension and comprehension’ over apparent government failure to provide security and bring the perpetrators to justice.
In a statement which he sent to ACN, Archbishop Kaigama wrote: “We as pastors have reached a state of near desperation—seeing children, women and men bombed out of existence.
“Attacks continue to be visited on our people with very little sign that the concerned political and security officials are able to arrest the situation. The mood among lay Catholics is one of apprehension and consternation; that these terrorists can easily get away with horrible acts of criminality against innocent people is very disturbing.”
The archbishop, who was guest-of-honour at ACN UK’s annual Westminster Event on October 20, underlined his opposition to reprisal attacks by Christians, stating: “Naturally, there is a spontaneous outburst of anger and the temptation to reprisal attacks by young people. Our message to our people has been consistent: no aggression and no retaliation,” he said. “This is a test of our Christian faith; a time to be Christ-like.”
However, he warned the people’s patience was wearing thin, adding: “How long this endurance by affected Christians will last is what I cannot easily tell.”
Sunday’s explosion, at about 8.35am, took place while Mass was taking place and among the injured was the parish priest, Fr Boni. ACN reports state that those who were seriously injured were taken to nearby hospitals and some have since been discharged. The attack came just two days after young people from across the religious divide organised a celebration marking the Muslim feast Eid el-Kabir.
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