At the end of the liturgical gathering of Catholic Archbishops, Bishops, Clergy, Religious, lay faithful and the Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria present to mark the canonical erection of the Catholic Diocese of Bomadi and the installation of Most Rev. Hyacinth Oroko Egbebo (MSP) as the first Bishop of Bomadi Diocese on the 15th December, 2017, we renew our commitment to pray and hope for the return of peace and normalcy to generality of our people. However, agents of darkness continue to hold our people to ransom through kidnapping, armed robbery and other dehumanizing activities. This is why we are sadden and pained by the continued detention of our daughters, the Sisters of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus, who were kidnapped almost a month ago in their convent in Iguoriakhi, near Benin City.
Since this ugly incident, we have continued to pray and work in earnest for their safe return home. Sadly, every passing day has only added to our sorrow and uncertainty. As we still continue to pray for their release, we, the Catholic Bishops after a prayerful reflection appeal to all our fellow Catholics, other Christians and men and women of goodwill to continue to pray for our suffering daughters as well as many others caught in this web of sorrow.
While we continue in prayer, we also appeal to our people to assist the security agencies so that they can intensify their efforts in securing the release of the kidnapped sisters. In this way they will return home and continue with their great selfless work of alleviating the pain in our society. We also appeal to those holding them to please heed our appeal and immediately release them. For now, we appeal to you all that we all remain in our commitment to creating a better society where we can all continue to live and work in peace.
Signed:
Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama Archbishop Augustine Akubeze
(President) (Vice President)
Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria
