154 churches deserted over Borno, Adamawa terrorist attacks

The Catholic Church in Nigeria have lamented the persecution its members are currently going through in the North-east part of the country.
In a statement released by Rev. Fr. Gideon Obasogie, the Director of Social Communication, Catholic Diocese of Maiduguri, many members of the church are living in fear due to the insecurity occasioned by the activities of Boko Haram militants.
According to the statement, several churches, numbering about 154, have been deserted as the insurgents hold sway in the past few weeks.
The statement titled, ‘While Our People Perish,’ said, “As a church, we are really going through a severe moment of persecution. The ecclesial circumscription is facing sharp disintegration. In the last few weeks our churches, numbering 154, have been deserted” as the insurgents hold sway.
It added, ” While our people perish in action or rather slow action is what we get. Political activities in neighbouring communities were ongoing as though nothing were at stake. The seemingly not so much talked about syndicate would someday be a yoke on all.
“Lately, three local government areas of Bama, in Borno State and Madagali/Michika in Adamawa State and their local government chairmen were all sacked. The Shehus and Emirs (un-throned)- or overturned, this amounts to what I would rather refer to as (cultural coup), since unknown figures have been placed in such capacities. Thousands displaced, many killed and others forcibly conscripted. These are pointers that Boko Haram terrorism is not just a northern problem, but a Nigerian problem and in fact a global issue.
“Nigerians, who were supposed to celebrate their independence as a free Nation, were rather counting their losses and regrets as they have been reduced to the status of Internally Displaced Persons.
“Where is the freedom? Life is really terribly difficult. We are waiting eagerly to go back home, even as it is obvious that we are going to reconstruct our looted and burnt houses and ecclesial structures. We have been sacked for months, sleeping in uncompleted buildings, camps and school premises. We have been absorbed into houses of relations and friends in sixties and seventies.”