URGENT PRAYER REQUEST TO STOP THE BLOODSHED IN NIGERIA
We, the Catholic Bishops of Onitsha Ecclesiastical Province, condemn in strongest terms, the recent gruesome massacre of our brothers and sisters in Benue State by the so-called herdsmen on Friday night, 13th June, 2025. We also received credible information that similar senseless attacks and killings also took place in some parts of Eha-Amufu in Enugu State on Sunday, 15th June, 2025. We are deeply anguished and shocked by this relentless shedding of innocent blood in different parts of our beloved country, Nigeria. We describe these acts as inhuman, barbaric and gross violation of the sanctity and dignity of human life. In many parts of Nigeria today, many people are living in constant fear due to insecurity. We therefore call on the Nigerian Government to immediately put an end to the almost daily bloodshed in different parts of our country. We also demand the government to rise to their principal duty of restoring security, justice and peace in Nigeria.
As spiritual leaders of the people of God, we call on all men and women of goodwill in our province to turn to God in prayer at this critical moment of our history. God is our hope and “our hope cannot disappoint us” {Rom.5:5}. In a very special way, we invite all priests and Religious in our province to observe next Friday, 20th June, 2025 as a special day of prayer and fasting. The intention is for peace and security especially in Benue State, Enugu State and other parts of Nigeria where similar things are happening. We also pray for those who have lost their lives in these circumstances. We pray that God will receive their souls and console their families.
We request that, in addition to fasting, all priests and Religious of our province dedicate their Holy Masses, Holy Rosaries and Divine offices this Friday, 20th June, for this noble intention. We lift up our eyes to the mountain because our help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth {Ps. 121:2}. We appeal to Our Blessed Mother, Mary, Queen of peace and Queen of Nigeria to intercede for our country Nigeria.
Given this 18th day of June, 2025.
