Islamist threats fail to deter Nigerians' Christmas celebrations
LAGOS, Nigeria (CNS) -- Catholic Nigerians displaced by violence and the threat of suicide bomb attacks by Islamist insurgents celebrated Christmas not knowing when they might return home.
Despite the uncertainty, a spokesman for the Diocese of Maiduguri in troubled Borno state said the celebrations focused on Mass and thanksgiving for life.
"Christians were seen trooping in to churches for this all holy and solemn celebration, to commemorate the birth of Christ," Father Gideon Obasogie, diocesan director of social communications, said in a statement sent to Catholic News Service Dec. 28.
He said the celebrations continued although vehicular traffic was restricted in Maiduguri Dec. 25-28 in an effort to prevent the Islamist militant group Boko Haram from claiming new territory.
Boko Haram, an insurgent Islamist group, seeks to overthrow the Nigerian government and create an Islamic state. More than 2,000 people have died in 2014 in quick-hit attacks and bombings in a large swath of the country.
Despite their faithfulness, the displaced people are living in a state of hopelessness, said Father Obasogie.
"Their faith, however, (was) proven and tested, refined and purified, as they were out on foot for long distances to see the baby Jesus," he said.
"Some were not even sure of returning home, since there was much fear of terrorists attacks particularly at crowded areas," he added.
Fears among the displaced were fueled by information that some insurgents were dressing in the garb of Christian women's groups, making them more difficult to detect in public gatherings, the priest's statement said.
"More so, some were out to use babies, even dead ones, carried around with explosives on them to get at crowded areas,'' the statement said.
A Christmas message from Bishop Oliver Dashe Doeme of Maiduguri attempted to reassure the thousands of displaced people. He said that God was aware of the sorrow and rejection the people were experiencing.
Bishop Doeme pledged that he would remain united with their plight.
"Be consoled, for I, as your servant, am with you in spirit wherever you are, whether in the forests or mountains, or caves or bushes, towns or villages, I am there with you sharing in your pains, troubles, anxieties and anguish," he said.
On Dec. 29, Bishop Matthew Ishaya Audu of Lafia urged Nigerians to preach peace, unity and love among themselves, saying such actions would help the country overcome its security challenges and move development along.
"Our role as religious leaders is to preach the good news to the people and to ensure that peace and unity are sustained in the states and Nigeria at large, because no meaningful development can be achieved in any society without peace; peace is priceless and non-negotiable," the message said. "The security challenges facing the state and some parts of the country have affected our lives and the socio-economic development of the country negatively. I want to call on all of us to continue to preach peace, unity, love and tolerance among ourselves as exhibited in the Scriptures.
"If there are peace, unity, love and tolerance among ourselves, the security challenges facing the state and the country will be a thing of the past," Bishop Audu said.
The bishop urged both Christians and Muslims to strictly follow their religions' doctrines and continue to accept each other no matter their ethnic, religious and political affiliations.