At the Sunday Angelus, Pope Leo XIV expresses “sorrow and concern” over the latest wave of deadly attacks in Nigeria, which have claimed dozens of lives, and expresses his hope that authorities will “continue to work with determination to ensure the safety and protection of the life of every citizen.”
By Olivier Bonnel and Valerio Palombaro
Pope Leo has again appealed for prayers for Nigeria, which has recently suffered another spate of deadly attacks.
“It is with sorrow and concern that I learned of the recent attacks against various communities in Nigeria leading to a heavy loss of life,” the Pope said, speaking on Sunday after reciting the noonday Angelus..
On the evening of 3 February, at least 160 people were killed in the village of Woro, in the country’s central-west region.
“I express my prayerful closeness to all the victims of violence and terrorism,” the Pope added. “I likewise hope that the competent Authorities will continue to work with determination to ensure the safety and protection of the life of every citizen.”
READ THE FULL TEXT OF THE POPE’S ADDRESS HERE
A new round of abductions
At least 51 people have also been abducted and six killed over the past three days during attacks on four different villages in Kaduna State. According to Nigerian security sources cited by AFP, the attacks took place in the southern part of Kaduna State, a predominantly Christian area, where more than 180 people were abducted in January before being released in the past few days.
Attack on the Catholic community of Karku
Armed men abducted 11 people, including a priest, and killed three others in the Kajuru local government area. The Catholic Archdiocese of Kafanchan confirmed the abduction of a priest, Father Nathaniel Asuwaye, parish priest of Holy Trinity Church in Karku, in the Kajuru area. According to a statement from the archdiocese, the attack occurred around 3 a.m. on Saturday morning at his residence and also resulted in the deaths of three people, in what witnesses described as “an invasion by a group of terrorists.”
In response to the surge in violence—ranging from attacks by jihadist groups such as Boko Haram to raids by armed gangs—the federal government has deployed an army battalion to the Kaiama district on the orders of President Bola Tinubu.
In addition to Nigeria, the Pope also prayed on Sunday for victims of human trafficking and for those affected by floods and landslides in Spain, Morocco, Portugal and Sicily.
