Catholic Bishops in Onitsha Province call for prayers to end killings in Nigeria, declare Friday for fasting

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By Madu Obi

The Catholic Bishops of the Archdiocese of Onitsha Ecclesiastical Province have called for prayers from faithful and religious in the area to end bloodshed and killings in Nigeria.

The Bishops, comprising all the Dioceses in Anambra, Enugu and Ebonyi states, have already declared Friday, June 20 as a special day of prayer and fasting.

In a letter signed by the Metropolitan Archbishop of Onitsha, Most Rev. Valerian Okeke, who is the Chairman, and Bishop of Abakaliki, Most Rev. Peter Chukwu, who is the Secretary, the bishops condemned the killings across the country, particularly, the recent ones in Yelawata, Benue State and Eha-Amufu in Enugu State.

The letter titled, ‘Urgent prayer request to stop bloodshed in Nigeria’, described the killings as inhumane, barbaric and gross violation of the sanctity and dignity of human life.

It noted that in many parts of Nigeria today, many people are living in constant fear due to insecurity.

The letter read in part: “We, the Catholic Bishops of Onitsha Ecclesiastical Province condemn in strongest terms, the recent gruesome massacre of our brothers and sisters in Benue State by the so-called herdsmen on Friday night, June 13, 2025.

We also received credible information that similar senseless attacks and killings also took place in some parts of Eha-Amufu in Enugu State on Sunday, June 15, 2025. We are deeply anguished and shocked by this relentless shedding of innocent blood in different parts of our beloved country, Nigeria.

We describe these acts as inhumane, barbaric and gross violation of the sanctity and dignity of human life. In many parts of Nigeria today, many people are living in constant fear due to insecurity.”

We call on the Federal Government to immediately put an end to the almost daily bloodshed in different parts of the country, while also demanding government at all levels to rise to their principal duty of restoring security, justice and peace in Nigeria.

We also call on all men and women of goodwill in the Province to turn to God in prayer at this critical moment of history because God is our hope and our hope cannot disappoint us.

In a very special way, we invite all priests and religious in our Province to observe next Friday, June 20, 2025 as a special day of prayer and fasting.

The intention is for peace and security, especially in Benue State, Enugu State and other parts of Nigeria where similar things are happening. We also pray for those who have lost their lives in these circumstances. We pray that God will receive their souls and console their families.

We request that, in addition to fasting, all priests and religious of our province dedicate their Holy Masses, Holy Rosaries and Divine offices this Friday, June 20, for this noble intention.

We lift up our eyes to the mountain because our help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. We appeal to Our Blessed Mother, Mary, Queen of peace and Queen of Nigeria to intercede for our country, Nigeria."