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More than 200 Catholic churches have been destroyed across the Catholic Diocese of Maiduguri, while thousands of people, including Christians and Muslims, have reportedly been killed as a result of the prolonged insurgency in the North-East, the Auxiliary Bishop of Maiduguri Diocese, Most Rev. John Bogna Bakeni, has revealed.
Bakeni, who described the Catholic Diocese of Maiduguri as one of the most persecuted Churches in Nigeria, said the diocese had continued to survive despite years of violence, destruction, displacement and attacks on communities, reports The Guardian.
He spoke during a Thanksgiving Mass he concelebrated with the Emeritus Archbishop of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, at St. Vincent De Paul Catholic Church, Ogo-Oluwa, Osogbo, as part of activities marking the ongoing plenary meeting of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria in Osun State.
The Mass coincided with the commemoration of the martyrdom of Saints Cornelius, Pope, and Cyprian, Bishop, who were remembered for their steadfastness and sacrifice for the Christian faith.
Bakeni urged the faithful to draw lessons from the lives of the two martyrs, particularly their courage in remaining committed to their faith despite persecution and threats to their lives.
He said the celebration should also provide an opportunity for Catholics to examine their lives and ask whether their conduct truly reflects the faith they profess.
The Bishop’s central message to the congregation was that genuine Christian faith must be demonstrated through love, sacrifice and concern for others.
“If you do not love, your faith is useless,” he declared.
According to him, a person could occupy a leadership position in the Church and still fail in one of the fundamental demands of Christianity if such an individual continued to harbour grudges, jealousy and hatred against others.
He said Christian leadership should not be measured simply by the position occupied by an individual, but by the person’s willingness to serve, forgive, sacrifice and show concern for others.
Bakeni reminded the congregation of Christ’s teaching on sacrificial love, saying: “There is no greater love a man can have for his brothers and sisters than to lay down his life for them.”
He urged Christians to live with humility and the simplicity of children, while remaining committed to doing what pleases God.
The Bishop also warned against deliberately distorting the truth or describing what is wrong as right for personal benefit.
According to him, Christians have a responsibility to recognise the truth, accept responsibility for their actions and avoid allowing personal interests to compromise their conscience.
He urged the faithful to regularly examine themselves and ensure that their actions correspond with the teachings of Jesus Christ.
Bakeni said the examples of Saints Cornelius and Cyprian should challenge Catholics to remain firm in their faith, particularly when confronted with difficult circumstances.
The Bishop, drawing from his experience in the Catholic Diocese of Maiduguri, spoke extensively about the challenges faced by the Church as a result of insurgency in the North-East.
He described the Diocese of Maiduguri as a Church that had endured years of violence, destruction and displacement, but which, according to him, had continued to survive through the grace of God.
He said more than 200 Catholic churches had been destroyed during the years of insurgency, while thousands of people were killed and many others displaced from their communities.
He recalled the situation in 2014, when intensified attacks forced thousands of Catholics to flee their homes and communities.
According to him, the impact of the insurgency was not limited to Christians, as Muslims and other residents of affected communities also suffered from the violence.
Despite the scale of the destruction, Bakeni said the Catholic Diocese of Maiduguri had remained resilient.
“We are surviving today as a diocese by the grace of God,” he said.
He said one of the significant testimonies from the period of insecurity was the decision by many Catholics to remain committed to their faith despite threats, displacement and pressure.
According to him, some Christians who were confronted with pressure to abandon their faith refused to convert and continued to identify with the Catholic Church.
He said their decision demonstrated their commitment to their religious convictions despite the difficult circumstances.
Bakeni further said Catholic worship had continued in the diocese despite the security challenges, with congregations still attending Masses.
“Our churches are full at every Mass. Guns are being shot and bombs are exploding, but Catholics remain in the churches,” he said.
He attributed the continued survival of the Church in the area to God’s grace and the prayers of Christians.
The Bishop therefore appealed to Catholics in Osun State and other parts of Nigeria to remember the Diocese of Maiduguri in their prayers.
“Don’t allow anything to rob you of your peace,” he urged the congregation.
Bakeni also urged residents of Osun State to appreciate the relative peace they enjoy and avoid actions capable of threatening it.
He described Osun as one of the peaceful states in Nigeria and advised residents not to take peace for granted.
“Don’t allow anything to rob you of your peace,” he told the congregation.
He encouraged the people to appreciate the simple privilege of being able to go to bed safely, sleep peacefully and wake up without fear.
“You are blessed. You should thank God that you can go to bed, sleep and wake up,” he said.
The Bishop said the experience of Maiduguri should remind Nigerians of the importance of protecting peace and preventing violence from taking root in their communities.
He urged the faithful to continue praying for communities affected by insecurity and for those working to restore peace in troubled areas.
The Bishop described the Catholic Church as a persecuted Church in several parts of the world, but maintained that persecution would not stop Christians from practising their faith.
“Catholic Church is a persecuted Church. With God on our side, we will continue to march on,” he said.
He urged Catholics not to lose hope because of the difficulties confronting the Church, stressing the importance of prayer, courage and steadfastness.
He specifically appealed to the faithful to continue praying for the Catholic Diocese of Maiduguri and Christians living in areas affected by insurgency.
“Continue to pray for the Catholic Diocese of Maiduguri,” he appealed.
The Bishop expressed confidence that evil would eventually be defeated and that the faithful would triumph through God’s grace.
“Evil will be defeated. We will triumph at the end,” he said.
Bakeni’s address combined a call for personal examination and Christian responsibility with a testimony about the difficulties experienced by the Diocese of Maiduguri.
He urged Catholic faithful to allow their faith to influence their daily conduct, stressing that Christianity should be reflected not only in participation in religious activities but also in the way believers treat other people.
He also called on Church leaders and members to remain committed to truth, humility and service, while encouraging Catholics to pray for peace and for communities still affected by violence.
The Bishop’s message came as Catholic bishops from across Nigeria continued their plenary activities in Osun State, with religious activities and discussions focusing on the mission of the Church and the challenges confronting Christians and the wider society.
The commemoration of Saints Cornelius and Cyprian, according to the Bishop, offered another reminder that faith demands commitment and sacrifice, especially in times of trial.
He urged the faithful to remain steadfast in their Christian calling and to draw strength from the examples of those who had gone before them, while continuing to pray for the Church, the Diocese of Maiduguri and peace across Nigeria.
