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

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.” 

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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.

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.