“Faith is keeping them going”: Catholic Priest Lauds Boko Haram Survivors’ Unwavering Devotion in Displacement

Abuja, 15 January, 2026 / 5:40 PM

The Parish Priest of St. Augustine Waru Parish of Nigeria’s Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja has lauded the resilience of survivors of Boko Haram insurgencies who are now living as internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Shape Community, on the outskirts of the West African country’s capital city, Abuja.

In an interview with ACI Africa on the sidelines of the distribution of foodstuffs to the IDPs, which the Justice Development and Peace Caritas Initiative (JDPCI) of Abuja Archdiocese organized, Fr. Matthew Kwaggas said the displaced families, despite years of suffering, continue to find strength and hope in their Catholic faith.

“Their faith is very strong. Despite their situation, they still hold on to their Catholic faith. I commend their faith. That is what is keeping them going,” Fr. Kwaggas told ACI Africa on Wednesday, January 14.

According to the Catholic Priest, the IDPs, many of whom fled attacks in Pulka and other communities in Gwoza Local Government Area of Nigeria’s Borno State, have been living in Shape Community for as long as 15 years. 

Some arrived more recently, about eight or nine years ago, as violence intensified in northeastern Nigeria.

Yet, Fr. Kwaggas noted, prolonged displacement, loss of loved ones, and persistent economic hardship have not weakened their commitment to worship. Every Sunday, the modest church building at St. Paul’s outstation in Shape, under St. Augustine’s Waru Parish, is filled with worshippers.

“Whenever you come here to celebrate Mass for them, they are always present. You see the excitement with which they attend Mass. They are very happy people as far as the faith is concerned,” he said.

Many of the faithful, he explained, walk long distances from their settlement to attend Mass and other Church activities. 

“Any Sunday I come here for Mass, this Church is filled up. They have never relented; they have never gotten tired,” Fr. Kwaggas said, adding that they actively participate in the Church Sacraments, including the Holy Eucharist and Confession. 

The Nigerian Catholic Priest described the IDPs’ faith as something tangible, saying, “You can see the faith expressed by them practically and physically; you can even touch it.” 

He reiterated, “Despite what has happened, honestly, I think they are still holding strongly to their faith, which is their only source of hope.”

Fr. Kwaggas added that the witness of the Catholic IDPs has also influenced non-Catholics in the area. He said, “There are other people here who are not from the Catholic Church, but the faith of the people here has influenced them, and some of them never went back to their own churches.”

Life in Shape Community remains fragile. Most of the displaced families survive through subsistence farming or by operating motorcycles, popularly known as okada, for commercial transport. While some have managed to build small houses or rented spaces for their accommodation over the years, returning to their ancestral homes is not an option.

“They cannot go back because the attacks are still there. That is how they found themselves here,” the Nigerian Catholic Priest told ACI Africa.

Beyond providing spiritual nourishment, the Church has also become a source of dignity and encouragement for the displaced families, he said, recalling that recently, St. Paul’s outstation underwent urgent renovations, including new flooring, roofing repairs, and the construction of a new altar.

“This Church was not cemented before. We did this work just last week,” Fr. Kwaggas recalled, attributing the initiatives to the financial support from the Local Ordinary of Abuja, Archbishop Ignatius Kaigma. 

He said, “We cannot thank the Archbishop enough.”

For Fr. Kwaggas, the perseverance of the displaced families is a powerful testimony of lived faith. “Life has not been easy for them, but ours as a Church is to encourage them, to tell them that life still goes on and the Catholic Church will never forget or abandon them,” he told ACI Africa on January 14.