“I don't have a village anymore”: Catholic Priest Decries Insecurity, Christian Persecution in Nigeria

Fr. Mom added, “When Yelewata community was burnt down, I lost two cousins, and another cousin was shot on his farm two weeks ago. These attacks are targeted. There are areas where Christianity is simply not allowed to grow.”

The Superior General of Via Christi Society further explained that Priests continue to live and work in dangerous conditions even after government officials have abandoned those areas. 

“Many Parishes in Makurdi Diocese and outstations have been closed down because of this insecurity. Local government chairmen have relocated their offices to Makurdi, but Catholic Priests remain in those villages. They go to bed every night wondering if they will survive, yet they stay,” he said.

Fr. Mom urged the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led government to acknowledge the scale of the crisis and take action. 

“The popular narrative among the powers that be is to deny the reality, but those of us who face it firsthand know the truth. Churches are destroyed, Priests are displaced, and Christians are being persecuted. Government presence is almost non-existent in these communities. The only officials left are soldiers,” he said.

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Despite the insecurity and criticisms, Fr. Mom noted that the Catholic Church does not see itself as an enemy of the Nigerian government and State officials. 

“The Church and the State have always worked hand in hand. The scriptures call us to pray for our leaders. We love them, we pray for them, and we wish them well. But as a credible moral voice, we must call their attention to the suffering of the people,” he said.

In the September 7 interview, the native of Makurdi Diocese also reflected on the challenges of vocations to Priestly and Religious Life and the formation of candidates.

“The world has become very secular and lazy, and vocations come from this same society. It is tougher now to train Priests because many young people lack commitment. We must build virtues of sacrifice and dedication,” he explained.

Fr. Mom dismissed suggestions that economic hardship alone prevents young people from joining the Priesthood and Religious Life. 

“We train all our Seminarians without asking them to pay. What really hinders vocations today is materialism. If you are driven by wealth and comfort, you cannot survive in the Priesthood. Our Priests in Via Christi Society work in remote and difficult missions where sacrifice is required, not wealth,” the Nigerian Superior General said.

He noted that missionary life demands sacrifice and service rather than wealth. 

“The Lord says, ‘Foxes have holes, the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.’ To follow Him means surrender and sacrifice. If you are driven by wealth, you have no place in the Priesthood,” he warned.

He went on to highlight sacrifices of Via Christi missionaries both in Nigeria and abroad. 

“In Makurdi Diocese, our Priests remain in flashpoints like Udei, Adaka, Aondona, and Naka. In Bauchi, one of our Priests installed solar power that became the only source of light for an entire village,” Fr. Mom said.

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He went on to recount, “In the Caribbean, when hurricanes hit St. Vincent and the Grenadines, one of our Priests sheltered an entire community in his Church basement. That is what missionary service looks like.”

Fr. Mom said that the Church will continue to rely on faith to sustain its mission. 

“Our founder, Father Angus Fraser, always reminded us to live by divine providence. Even when obstacles seem impossible, divine providence takes us a step further. That is what keeps us going in Nigeria and in every part of the world where we serve,” he told ACI Africa.

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.