“We cannot look away”: Nigerian Catholic Archbishop Reaches Out to Survivors of July 15 Deadly Attack at IDP Camp

The fact that the perpetrators of the July 15 attack have not been arrested is frustrating, he said, adding, “This will continue to go on unabated. Nobody has even been arrested. It is very sad news to hear something like that. And I think this is where I call on the government to intensify their efforts to make sure that this cannot continue the way it is going.”

The Local Ordinary of Jos Archdiocese explained that the Church has consistently raised alarm over insecurity, but that government responses have often fallen short. 

He acknowledged that the military and police have made efforts, but he said the persistence of attacks shows that more decisive action is needed. The Catholic Archbishop called upon political leaders to go beyond promises and demonstrate a real commitment to protecting lives.

“The life of every Nigerian matters, whether rich or poor, whether Christian, Muslim, or adherent of traditional religion,” he said and continued, “The failure to secure lives undermines the very foundation of our society. We must reject a situation where citizens begin to see violence as normal.”

The Nigerian Catholic Church leader, who started his Episcopal Ministry in March 2001 as Bishop of Nigeria’s Lafia Catholic Diocese also addressed the growing temptation for communities to take matters into their own hands by launching reprisals.

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He warned against retaliation, insisting that vengeance only creates cycles of violence. 

“We cannot solve insecurity with more insecurity. Communities must resist the urge to retaliate, no matter how painful their losses are. Only through justice, dialogue, and accountability can we find a path to peace,” Archbishop Audu said.

He urged Christians to strengthen their trust in God and not to give in to fear or despair. 

“Prayer is essential, but prayer does not exclude action. We must combine our faith with efforts to educate our people on vigilance, conflict resolution, and peaceful coexistence,” the Local Ordinary of Jos since his installation in March 2020 said.

He noted that silence in the face of violence sends the wrong message that human life has lost value.

“Our prophetic role demands that we speak truth to power. To be silent when people are slaughtered is to deny the Gospel itself. Jesus stood with the oppressed and gave His life for the weak. As His followers, we cannot act otherwise,” Archbishop Audu said.

He continued, “Our faith demands that we be the voice of the voiceless. We cannot be intimidated into silence. The blood of martyrs, both ancient and recent, challenges us to remain steadfast. The Church will continue to proclaim peace, justice, and the sanctity of life until our land is healed.”

The Nigerian Catholic Archbishop emphasized that the Church will continue to engage with government and civil society to promote peace. 

He encouraged interfaith dialogue and collaboration as vital tools for strengthening national unity. 

“Christians and Muslims must work together to isolate the merchants of violence. Terrorists and bandits do not represent any religion. We must not allow them to divide us along religious or ethnic lines,” Archbishop Audu told ACI Africa in the August 28 interview.

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Abah Anthony John is a Nigerian Catholic journalist with passion for Church communication and media apostolate. He holds a bachelor’s degree in mass communication from Benue State University, Makurdi in Benue State Nigeria. He has a background in print, electronic and multi-media production.