AFRICA/NIGERIA - No priests killed during clashes at Christmas in Nigeria

Jos (Agenzia Fides) - “No priest in Jos or Maiduguri was killed during the Christmas attacks” in Nigeria, revealed Archbishop Ignatius A. Kaigama of Jos to Fides, regarding reports in the media which announced that among the victims of the violence of Christmas there was even a Catholic priest. The Prelate, however, states that the Bishop of Maiduguri informed him that a Protestant pastor was killed in Maiduguri. On Christmas Eve there were a series of explosions in Jos, in the Nigerian state of Plateau, which caused the deaths of more than 30 people and dozens of wounded. Another six people were killed during Christmas Mass in the attacks on two churches in Maiduguri in the north east of the Country. The violence continued in the days following. On Sunday, 26 December, at the Angelus, Benedict XVI, after stating that “our world continues to be marked by violence, especially against the disciples of Christ” and citing the attack on Christian churches in Nigeria, invited us to pray, “to vigorously ask the Lord to touch the hearts of men and bring hope, reconciliation and peace.” (SL) (Agenzia Fides 29/12/2010)