By Fr. Michael Nsikak Umoh
The Archbishop of Lagos, Most Rev. Alfred Adewale Martins, has declared Sunday, June 22, 2025, in his Archdiocese, as a Day of Prayer for Peace and protest against killings in Nigeria, particularly in Benue and Enugu states. This decision follows the recent massacre in Yelewata, Benue state, where many lives were lost in a brutal killing by suspected Fulani herdsmen.
In a special circular, the Archbishop condemned the gruesome killings, describing it as “inhumane and completely barbaric.” He expressed pain and outrage over the incident, which targeted vulnerable and unprotected people, including those who had been displaced from their homes.
“The conviction of being deliberately targeted is thick in the air and people need to be reassured that they are safe and secure irrespective of where they live within the borders of our country,” Archbishop Martins said.
The Prelate lent his voice to that of the Holy Father, and all well-meaning individuals and organisations, in calling on government and security agencies to take immediate action to secure the lives of citizens and bring the perpetrators of the crime to justice. He emphasised that the lack of solution to the problems in Benue state for many years is an indictment on the efficiency of the security system and the sincerity of the politicians.
“We thank our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, for calling the attention of the world to the Benue massacre in particular as well as to the violence that is ongoing in other parts of our country.
“Let us all, with one voice, call on the security agencies, and governments at all levels in our country not to look away from the suffering of the people of Benue and other states that has been going on for far too long,” Archbishop Martins tasked.
Consequently, Archbishop Martins has directed all priests working in Lagos Archdiocese to celebrate Masses in their parishes on Sunday June 22, 2025, seeking God’s intervention to bring the violence to an end. Similarly, in the evening of the same day, parishes are to organize rosary processions within their church compounds, led by Marian devotion societies and other Catholic groups, while the faithful are encouraged to call upon the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Queen of Peace and Help of Christians, to intercede on behalf of the many people suffering in Nigeria.
The Day of Prayer and Protest declared by the Archdiocese of Lagos is a peaceful and vocal condemnation of the continuous violation of lives and properties in Nigeria. By this gesture, the Archdiocese emphasises the sacredness of life and that all lives matter; thereby demanding action from the government and security agencies to protect the lives of all Nigerians. Indeed, the earth is tired of drinking innocent blood!
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