Bishop in Nigeria marks anniversary of church massacre
On the first anniversary of the Pentecost Sunday church attack in Nigeria, the bishop of the diocese where the slaughter took place said that the evils of terrorism can scar people for life. Bishop Jude Arogundade told Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) that the extremists who killed 41 people and injured more than 80 at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Owo on June 5, 2022, are still at large.
During Mass that day, explosives went off, and disguised gunmen opened fire inside the packed church.
Bishop Arogundade called for “sober reflection on how far we are ready to go to protect human life and its dignity and sanctity as a nation.” The bishop added that people often say, “time heals, and we should move on by committing the memory of the victims to history,” but it is important to mark the anniversary of the massacre by “reminding the world of the evil of terrorism and the long-term effects it has on people.”
In the year since the attack, no one has been brought to justice, but the bishop still urges those in positions of power to take the necessary steps to prevent similar tragedies.
According to Father Michael Abugan, the pastor of St Francis Xavier, the community will not be at peace until there is justice. Father Michael said, “We don’t want to believe that justice will be denied. We are hoping, and we know that one day the government will do what is necessary to bring the perpetrators to justice.”
Bishop Arogundade fears that all the families directly affected by the tragedy “will bear the scars for a long time to come.” He told ACN, “This anniversary presents an opportunity to reflect on what we have done so far and what more we can do to relieve those who are still suffering and help them live with their grief and trauma.”
He concluded, “We hope all people of goodwill will join us and support us in prayer to comfort a grieving Church. We still have so much to do to console the victims. Whatever support we get will help us meet many of our needs.”
—Amy Balog
