We've Lost 109 Members Of The Church – Catholic Diocese Of Maiduguri Laments

The Catholic diocese of Maiduguri, consisting of three north-eastern states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe, lamented that a total of 109 members of the Church were killed by the recent wave of Boko Haram violence in different attacks. It also added that 27 women lost their husbands, while 107 children became orphans.

This has been announced during a news conference at the Saint Augustine’s Minor Seminary, Yola, on March 20, 2014.

The Director Social Communications Directorate of the Church, Rev. Fr. Gideon Obasagie, commended the Federal Government for its steps to protect the Christians living in the three states. He noted that without constant assistance, Christians would be completely wiped out there.

The Rector of St. Joseph’s Minor Seminary, Rev. Father Alexander Miskita William, recalled how Boko Haram sect attacked his school in Chakawa:


“We were surprised to note that insurgents launched attack in the area, because we know the military were deployed there.

“We were told that Boko Haram men were on the rampage as a result, we gathered the students as we have no alternative other than to move.

“So when we heard the chant of Allahu Akbar, we immediately took the 240 students in the school to safety through the perimeter fence where they spent the night in the bush”.

He further disclosed that the extremists’ target was the priest, because the attackers kept asking of him during their raid:


“There was a cripple in the school who could not escape before the insurgents struck. When they met him, they asked him to take them to the priest but he told them that he was a stranger and did not know anybody”.

The Parish Priest of Saint Peter’s Parish Pulka, Reverend Father James John, disclosed that about 23 local Churches have been burnt between Gwoza and Bama areas of Borno State. He also confirmed that over 43 people lost their houses, and Christians were forced to leave the areas.