Nigeria: Over 110 killed by Boko Haram, kidnapped priest still missing

Fr Matthew Dajo

Source: Vatican News/Fides/UN

The United Nations has declared that over 110 farmers were killed by Boko Haram rebels on November 28, in the village of Zabarmari, a community of rice farmers in the Jere area of the State of Borno, in the north of Nigeria.

"In the early afternoon of November 28, gunmen on motorcycles carried out a brutal attack on civilian men and women, who were working in the fields in Koshobe and other rural communities in the local government area of Jere", Edward Kallon, UN humanitarian coordinator in Nigeria, reported.

Several more people were injured in the attack and it is believed that many women may have been kidnapped. The bloody assault could be in retaliation for the arrest by a group of farmers of a member of Boko Haram, who was handed over to local security officers.

Meanwhile, Mgr Ignatius Ayau Kaigama, Archbishop of Abuja, protested that the Nigerian government excludes the Catholic Church from aid programs for the victims of Boko Haram terrorism. "The Catholic Church with its experience of being with and for the poor, and its support for the victims of terrorism and other disasters, is surprisingly not included in the allocation of aid provided by foreign governments", said Mgr Kaigama in a statement issued by Aid to the Church in Need.

The Archbishop of Abuja added: "Likewise, in setting up, for example, the Northeast Development Commission where Boko Haram operates, the government failed to include a representative of the Catholic Church whose "Justice, Development and Peace" department has significantly promoted spiritual and psychological activities as well as providing material support to thousands of people affected by terrorist violence."

There have also been violent incidents in the federal capital, Abuja. "Last week, five children from the same family were kidnapped in one of our parishes in the Archdiocese of Abuja, behind the parish house, and the following day a woman was also kidnapped as she was preparing for her church wedding. They have not yet been found," said Mgr Kaigama.

A Catholic priest is also missing. Fr Matthew Dajo, was kidnapped by armed men on Sunday 22 November at his home in the parish of St Anthony, in Yangoji, in Abuja. "A priest of mine was kidnapped and is still a prisoner. I ask you to please pray for his release," asked Mgr Kaigama.

At the end of his General Audience today, Pope Francis said: "I want to assure my prayers for Nigeria, where blood has unfortunately been spilled once more in a terrorist attack. May God welcome them in His peace and comfort their families, and convert the hearts of those who commit similar atrocities which gravely offend His name," the Pope prayed.