Catholic bishops led parishioners on a peaceful protest in Abuja against the killing and kidnapping perpetrated by Boko Haram and bandits.
President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), Archbishop Augustine Akubueze, led the protest held on Sunday.
The procession, which began at the Ecumenical Centre, saw protesters dressed in black like mourners throng the streets to the Our Lady Queen of Nigeria in Area 3.
Eyewitnesses say the protesters defied the drizzle, praying for God’s intervention in the nation’s affairs as they marched “on behalf of over 50 million Catholics and over 100 million Christians in Nigeria”.
Akubueze accused the Federal Government of not doing enough to protect Nigerians.
He said it had become tiring to hear the Federal Government say it has “technically defeated” Boko Haram while the group continued to kill Nigerians and destroy their property.
The Catholic bishop said, “The killing of God’s children is evil; the failure to protect innocent people from the relentless attacks is evil, the lack of prosecution of terrorists is evil, our government’s response to terrorist attack is, for lack of better words, far below average.
“There have been too many mass burials, too many kidnappings of schoolchildren, travellers, invasion of peoples homes, invasion of sacred places like churches, mosques, seminaries.
“We sometimes hear or read of our government sending condolence messages to western countries when there is a terrorist attack which has led to the death of one or two persons.
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“We commend the Federal Government for doing this, but we are surprised that in Nigeria, the Federal Government will not even send a condolence message to families that have suffered fatalities in the hands of Boko Haram. Our President rarely visits or speak to Nigerians when there are terrorists’ attacks.
“Your silence is sowing and breeding seeds of mistrust and the longer it stays this way, the more you lose those who could have given you the benefit of the doubt. As things stand now, it appears only a 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 and criminals.
“We cannot understand why the government’s reaction to the beheading of Rev. Lawan Andimi (Michika LG CAN chairman) has not shown that there is going to be any consequences for those responsible.
“Nigerians are tired of reading of such killings as that of an orphan seminarian who was just 18 years old and of a young wife and mother. Nigerians are tired of hearing of the inexcusable actions of the government in their response to these and many other sad cases.
“As we match, pray and protest today, we want all Catholics in Nigeria not to be hopeless, we want Catholics and other well-meaning patriotic Nigerians to stand together and fight this terrorism.”
In January, General Overseer, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, led members of The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) on a nationwide protest and prayer walk against killings in the country.