SPECIAL CIRCULAR: ARCHDIOCESE OF LAGOS
TO ALL PRIESTS AND RELIGIOUS WORKING IN THE ARCHDIOCESE OF LAGOS, AND THE LAY FAITHFUL
Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Lord:
THE KILLINGS IN BENUE AND OTHER STATES: A CALL FOR PRAYERS IN THE CATHOLIC ARCHDIOCESE OF LAGOS.
On the night of 13th to 14th of June 2025, another orgy of violence erupted at Yelewata, Benue state in the same fashion as it has been unleashed on the people of other mostly rural communities in Benue and other states such as Enugu state. There is righteous anger and pain in the land. Everyone with blood flowing in their veins are appalled at the inhumane and completely barbaric way the massacres have been happening in Benue state. Not that there is any way that it could have been less barbaric but it is even more appalling because of the fact that people who were already displaced from their homelands were pursued to their places of refuge and along with many others were murdered in their sleep. Heaven and earth are united in condemnation of this pain that is continually being inflicted on people that are vulnerable and unprotected by the security apparatus of the country.
BENUE BLEEDS AGAIN: When Shall Government Act?: https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=733561359181382&id=100075825738173&rdid=VdPCt9Eg4MmxmYfA#
As human beings, we are all pained; as Christians we feel violated by the fact that this is continuing to happen especially in places that are populated mostly by Christians and there is not enough being done to bring the perpetrators to book. 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. That there has not been a solution to the problems for so many years is an indictment on the efficiency of our security system and the sincerity of the politicians, especially in Benue State.
Christians need to be assured that they are not victims of any sinister agenda. However, we are neither security experts nor politicians in power but as a people of faith we have the assurance of our Lord and master that the gates of hell shall not prevail against his church. So as we call on government that has the apparatus for dealing with the sort of violence being experienced in the country to do their work and secure the lives of citizens, we also turn to God for his intervention.
To this end, we in the Archdiocese of Lagos have set aside Sunday, the 22nd of June 2025 as a Day of Prayer for Peace and protest against violence in Nigeria as a whole and the slaughter in Benue and Enugu states, as well as other especially in the North. All priests are to celebrate all Masses in their parishes on that day seeking Godโs intervention to bring the violence to an end. We enjoin the Religious Sisters and Brothers in their various convents, Associations of the lay faithful, families and individuals to pray the Rosary on that day for this intention. Our protest shall NOT be in the streets but in the form of vocal condemnation of the continuous violation of the lives and properties of people, led by the priests in their exhortations on the Sunday, 22nd June 2025. Parishes should also organize rosary processions on the evening of the day around their church compounds to be led by Marian devotion societies, Association of Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary and the Catholic charismatic Renewal. 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.
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. In response to his call for prayer, we shall not cease praying even as we set aside the 22nd of June 2025 as our own official Day of Prayer in the Archdiocese of Lagos. I urge all the faithful to call upon our Blessed Virgin Mary, the Queen of Peace and Help of Christians to intercede on behalf of the peoples suffering in our land and elsewhere. God bless you all.
BENUE BLEEDS AGAIN: When Shall Government Act?: https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=733561359181382&id=100075825738173&rdid=VdPCt9Eg4MmxmYfA#
+ Alfred Adewale Martins
Archbishop of Lagos
June 17, 2025.
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