“Join me in praying for Fr. Isaac Achi,” Pope Francis’ Appeal for Murdered Nigerian Priest

Addressing the pilgrims at the Vatican on January 18, Pope Francis called for prayers for Christians who are facing persecution across the world. He said, “So many Christians continue to be the target of violence. Let us remember them in our prayers.”

Nigeria has been struggling with a wave of violence by armed gangs who frequently carry out killings and kidnappings for ransom.

The country has been experiencing insecurity since 2009 when the Boko Haram insurgency emerged with the aim of turning the West African country into an Islamic state. 

In November last year, Bishop Jude Ayodeji Arogundade of Nigeria’s Ondo Diocese said the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP), Boko Haram, and Fulani herders have an objective of establishing an Islamic rule in Nigeria and to “conquer the infidels, that is, the Christians and Non-Muslims and Muslims who are not as radicalized as they are.”

In his address to the Houses of Parliament, the Nigerian Catholic Bishop said religious persecution is high in the Northern and Middle Belt regions of Nigeria, especially in States guided by Sharia laws where Christians are discriminated against on account of their faith.

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Bishop Arogundade appealed to the lawmakers in the United Kingdom to compel the Nigerian Government to stop the genocide “before Nigeria is overrun as is the case of Afghanistan”.

Magdalene Kahiu is a Kenyan journalist with passion in Church communication. She holds a Degree in Social Communications from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA). Currently, she works as a journalist for ACI Africa.