Catholics Nationwide embarks on peaceful prayer procession, as slain priests laid to rest in Makurdi

 

 

 

By Godwin Utuedoye,

 

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In line with the directives given by the Catholic hierachy in Nigeria, urging all members to embarked on a peaceful prayer procession in every Catholic Dioceses in Nigeria on Tuesday, May 22, 2018, the Catholic Bishop of Warri Diocese, Most Rev. John Oke’Oghene Afareha has stressed that the manner and way of attack by suspected Fulani’s herdsmen which led to the killing of two Catholic priests and 17 other worshippers inside the Church in Benue State on April 24, 2018, is a clear indication that the killings are targeted and directed.

 

                              Catholic Bishop of Warri Diocese during 

                              the peaceful procession/demonstration                 

Bishop Afareha gave the statement at the Sacred Heart Cathedral Warri, Delta State, during the requim Mass for the two slain priests, Rev. Fr’s. Joseph Gor, Felix Tyolaha  and 17 worshippers who were brutally murdered by suspected Fulani Herdsmen during a morning Mass at St. Ignatius Catholic Church, Mbalom in Gwer Local Government Area of Benue State and later laid to rest on Tuesday, May 22, 2018 in Makurdi, Benue State.

The Sacred Heart Cathedral Warri venue for the Mass for Warri Region of the Diocese was filled to capacity with Catholic faithful, Priests and Religious praying for the repose of the souls of the departed.

 

                         Catholics led by Bishop and Priests

                        during procession

Welcoming all to the celebration, the Vicar for Warri Region, Very Rev. Fr. Magnus Alim thanked all Christ’s faithful for the show of oneness and faith, maintaining that it is an expression of solidarity with the mother Church. He thanked the Bishop for coming, and noted that the requim Mass and Rosary procession is for the unity, peace and tranquility in the nation Nigeria.

In his words, “the requim Mass for Rev. Fr’s Joseph Gor and Felix Tyolaha is very significant as it is celebrated all over the country”. Rev. Fr. Alim therefore urged Catholic faithful to pour out their hearts and pray for the repose of the souls of the two murdered priests and 17 other worshippers as well as peace in Nigeria.

In his earlier remarks, Most Rev. Afareha disclosed that the requim Mass for the slain servants of God is in accordance and solidarity with the directives of the Catholic Bishop Conference of Nigeria CBCN, for God to grant the souls of the departed priests and faithful eternal rest. He added, that the Church will through this state her position to the government over the unprovoked killing of Christians even as they pray for unity, harmony and peace in Nigeria.

“Today we gathered here, also all over our Diocese and all over the nation to celebrate the requim Mass for the repose of the two priests, Rev. Fr’s Joseph Gor, Felix Tyolaha and 17 others brutally murdered in Makurdi Diocese while exercising their faith by suspected Fulani Herdsmen on April 24, 2018 at St. Ignatius Catholic Church Mbalon”, the Bishop stated.

Most Rev. Afareha further note, that the major purpose for the activity is to pray for peace and unity in Nigeria, and for God to bring to an end the incessant killings in the different parts of Nigeria. He noted that Masses is being held in every Catholic Diocese in Nigeria as a sign of devotional activity in solidarity and sense of oneness with the murdered victims.

“These Christians murdered were devoted believers of Jesus Christ, believers of the Catholic faith and with this death, their souls are rejoicing because their Salvation has been quickened and they are now Martyr’s of the Church”.

With placards bearing different inscriptions like; We are tired of Killings, Human life is Sacred, End to the killings,  For security of life and property etc, hundreds of Catholics led by Bishop John Oke,Oghene Afareha and priests processed and pray the Rosary through the Okere Road in Warri and Ajamimogha down to the Governor’s Office Annex in Ekpan to register their position.

Receiving the Bishop, priests and Catholic faithful’s on behalf of the Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, Mr.  Emiru Nelson, an Assistant Director in the Governor’s office annex, thanked the Bishop for the orderliness and peaceful conduct of the exercise assuring that he will relay the information to the appropriate authority.

In an official statement titled; Statement of the Catholic Diocese of Warri on the occassion of the day of prayer and solemn peaceful, prayerful procession and demonstration against the incessant killings in all parts of Nigeria, read and presented to Mr. Nelson Emiru by the Bishop, for the Delta State Government reads; today the Catholic Diocese of Warri, bishop, priests, religious and laity together with the Catholic bishops of Nigerian stand in solidarity with the Catholic Diocese of Makurdi in Benue State to mourn and pray for the souls of Frs. Joseph Gor and Felix Tyolaha and 17 other victims of herdsmen attack in Mbalom and all parts of Nigeria. On this day when our brothers and sisters are buried we say with a loud voice ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

Continuing, the statement read; “Peace is at the heart of the Christian message and we have gathered here in peace to pray for unity, peace and an end to the senseless killings in all parts of our country”.

The growing sense of fear, uncertainty and insecurity in our land is both palpable and unacceptable. We cannot take to arms to defend ourselves but we can arm ourselves with prayer and voice out our displeasure to the Government even as we challenge them to rise up to their constitutional responsibility of safeguarding the life and property of all Nigerians everywhere and at all times. Through this peaceful prayerful procession/demonstration we condemn in unequivocal terms the incessant and senseless killings in all parts of our country.

We reassert and call attention once more to the sanctity of human life. All life is sacred irrespective of tribe, creed or political affiliations, and so must be cherished and protected by all. We call on the government to deploy its machinery without complicity to stop the bloodletting and killings in our land, bring to justice these enemies of peace and save Nigeria from anarchy and disintegration.

The statement further reassured the government and Nigerians of her prayerful support even as they commend the souls of all victims of the vicious massacres in every parts of Nigeria to the mercy of God. “As the blood of martyrs is the seed of the Church so may the lives of these victims be the seed of restoration of peace, unity and responsible governance in our country”, the statement conclude.

In a brief interview concerning the killings in Benue state and other parts of the country, Most Rev. John Afareha said the stand of the Catholic Bishops of Nigeria is going against evil and all those who disobey God and the rule of life. He advised all to allow peace, love and respect for life and one and other reign.

Meanwhile, all the Five Regions in the Catholic Diocese of Warri also had the requim Mass and solemn procession with members carrying placards bearing different inscriptions.

It could be recalled that two Catholic priests of the Catholic Diocese of Makurdi, were on April 24, 2018 murdered alongside 17 other worshippers by suspected Fulani Herdsmen at St. Ignatius Catholic Church Mbalom in Gwer East Local Government Area of Benue State. The slain priests were laid to mother earth on Tuesday, May 22, 2018 at Makurdi amid tears.