You must unite to overcome persecution - Bishop tells Nigerian Christians

The Catholic Bishop of Kafanchan Diocese, Bishop Joseph Bagobiri, has called for greater cooperation among all Christian denominations within Nigeria if they hope to counter the violence they face in the country.

The bishop was speaking when he received an official delegation of the Catholic Bishops of Nigeria, recently in his diocese.

According to him, Christians in Nigeria are facing rising levels of persecution which threaten to undermine their place in both society and government.

A recent report from Vatican Radio outlined harsh atrocities committed against Christians in rural Nigeria, which allegedly led to numerous deaths and widespread property destruction.

Bagobiri affirmed his people's faith in God and their determination to endure despite government apathy,

“'Since we have no government that would listen to our plight, we have carried our case directly to God. It is only God that can save us from our present situation. Our hope in Him is never in vain since he knows our problem and He will deliver us one day just as he delivered the people of Israel from the hands of the Egyptians,' Bishop Bagobiri said.”

Aside from institutionalized violence, an itemized list of the current injustices includes inequitable distribution of amenities, infrastructure, and discrimination within political offices. Nonetheless, Bishop Bagobiri is confident God will provide as Nigerian Christians continue to strive for greater public equality.