A Nigerian bishop who served as a priest in the Brisbane Archdiocese says violence in Nigeria started like a “rat in the ceiling” but over the years multiplied into a widespread infestation of terrorism, banditry and communal conflict. Source: The Catholic Leader.
“Here in Katsina State, criminal banditry has displaced entire communities, emptying villages and some of our church communities,” Katsina Bishop Gerald Musa said.
“Priests find their parishioners scattered in (internally displaced persons) camps or faraway towns.
“Between 2021 and 2022, we had several people kidnapped and killed, among whom are the four priests kidnapped and one of whom was killed.
“A parish cannot function fully when its shepherd lives under constant threat and vocations may also be discouraged.
“In short, the ongoing violence in Nigeria not only kills, but weakens every part of parish life: worship, finances, leadership, and community trust.”
Bishop Musa, who previously served in Brisbane archdiocese as a priest, said it was “too shallow to say Nigeria’s violence is only about religion and it is equally false to deny that religion plays a part at all”.
“The truth is more complicated: different forces – extremism, crime, land disputes, and communal rivalries – all mix together like ingredients in a bitter stew,” he said.
“Asking whether Nigeria’s violence is religious or not is like asking whether fire burns because of the match or the petrol – both play their part, but it is the poor grass huts that get consumed in the flames.”
Bishop Musa said for some Christians, the violence had “driven their roots deeper into Christ”.
“Many Churches in some affected communities are still full, and worshippers say, ‘If we die, we die in Christ’,” he said.
“This echoes the witness of the early martyrs, turning suffering into testimony.
“Some victims have publicly forgiven their attackers, giving a powerful Christian witness.”
Bishop Musa says peace is possible.
“Lasting peace will only be possible when leaders act with integrity, when communities embrace forgiveness without forgetting justice, and when the root causes – poverty, corruption, and prejudice – are confronted,” he said.
“The journey is difficult, but Nigerians have shown again and again that despair is not the final word.”
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Bishop Gerald Musa speaks out on Nigeria’s killings and violence and what it means for the Church (By Joe Higgins, The Catholic Leader)
