Catalyst for Global Peace and Justice
STORY
Besides dozens of kidnappings, a total of four priests were murdered in nigeria during 2022
One of those priests, Fr Mark Cheitnum, was di- rector of communications for the diocese of Kafan- chan, and a friend of Aid to the Church in Need.
“The Diocese of Kafanchan has been suffering from terror and violence for many years. I remember that when we visited Bishop Bagobiri and Father Mark there was a curfew and we couldn’t spend too much time in the diocese, we had to leave in the afternoon because it was too dangerous. Terror and fear are affecting not just Kafanchan, but the whole state of Kaduna, and the violence has been spreading to Benue and other parts of the Middle Belt.” In a separate message, the directors of communication of the Catholic dioceses in Nigeria urged the government to do whatever is necessary to provide security, protecting the lives and livelihoods of priests in Nigeria.
During a visit by ACN to Kafanchan, in 2017, the late Bishop Joseph Bagobiri and Father Mark met the charity’s representa- tives and explained the terrible impact and increasing number of attacks by Fulani herdsmen terrorists in his diocese, in the southern part of Kaduna State. Maria Lozano, head of press of ACN International, was part of the delegation, and, on hearing the news, expressed her concern and sadness about the killing of Father Mark: “It is tragic, another priest killed in Nigeria, which brings the total number to four this year alone. Father Mark was deeply engaged in giving a voice to the innocent victims of violence in his diocese, who number in the hundreds, at least. Now he himself has become a victim in this spiral of death.”
Original articles: https://acninternational.org/ano- ther-priest-killed-in-nigeria/
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