Despite the ban on vehicular movement in Maiduguri metropolis and other parts of Borno state until the end of the yuletide celebration, there was high turnout of Christians in churches to mark the birth of Jesus Christ.
Worshippers had to travel from long distances within to attend the Christmas mass at different locations in the town.
St. Patrick Catholic Church Maiduguri was one of the churches that witnessed a high turnout of worshipers despite the palpable fear of a suicide attack on the worshippers by the dreaded Boko Haram sect.
In his sermon, the Catholic Bishop of Maiduguri Most Rev. Dr. Oliver Dashe Doeme assured the worshipers, many of whom are Internally Displaced Persons from Adamawa part of the diocese ( Pulka, Madagali, Gulak, MichiKa , Mubi ) that he will “be with them even in the deepest dungeon”.
“My dear people of God, the priests, religious and the entire lay faithful of the Catholic Diocese of Maiduguri, I extend my fraternal greetings to all of you especially at this trying moment in our life as a church.
“On the menace of Boko Haram, to say that we are experiencing severe test of our faith in this diocese hardly requires an emphasis. We are thoroughly devastated by the Boko Haram attacks. All our parishes in areas such as Monguno, Gamboru Ngala, Bama, Pulka, Madagali, Mataka, Gulak, Kaya, Yaffa, Shuwa, Michika, Bazza and Betso are under Boko Haram control. As a result of this, thousands of our Catholic faithful have been displaced. Many of them are on top of the mountains, thousands are in the Cameroun, and thousands are in Yola as well as in Maiduguri city among others. There are over twenty of our priests who have been displaced and are managing with their brother priests in the Diocese of Yola (thanks to the kind gesture of Bishop Stephen Mamza) and a few of them are squatting with their friends elsewhere.
“Since the crisis began, thousands of people have been killed. There are hundreds of our women and children who have been adopted. Some of the men have been forcefully conscripted into the Boko Haram army. In the recent attacks which led to many of our people fleeing, a lot of our aged people have been trapped in these areas. Some of them have been killed by the sect members, while others have died of hunger. There are many of you whose family houses, shops and vehicles have been vandalized or burnt down. The animals and crops belonging to some of you have either been looted or destroyed. The destructions done to our church structures both in the cities and villages are enormous”.
Bishop Doeme praised the faith of the worshippers who have made it to the church on the Christmas day.
Samuel Amaza one of the worshippers who spoke with our correspondent expressed joy for for seeing them through their trying times.
“We have to thank God that we are alive today. Some of our people have died. Even though we have no homes now, we still hinge our hopes on the almighty the creator of Heaven and Earth.
“It is our believe that this problem of Boko Haram would not last forever. Our land will witness peace again. Our peace would be everlasting after these bad times. The scriptures have said it all. It will surely come to pass,” Amaza said.
Rev. Fr. Gideon Obasogie, the Director of Catholic Communications in Maiduguri Diocese noted that, “despite the security lapses and challenge Christmas was celebrated with great joy and faith in the city of Maiduguri. We hope and pray that the forth coming Nation’s elections would be tension – free and that the threat of terrorism would be a thing of the pass”.
...culled from yohaig
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