Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Abuja (Agenzia Fides) - "Security has improved thanks to the efforts of the military who are present here and the attacks of Boko Haram have declined", says to Fides His Exc. Mgr. Oliver Dash Doeme, Bishop of Maiduguri, the most affected diocese in the north-east of Nigeria by the violence of Boko Haram. About 60,000 faithful of the diocese were forced to flee their homes; 50 churches were destroyed in the diocese; 150,000 people killed in the past six years.
"The main problem are the many displaced and internal refugees (about 60,000) still present in our diocese, both here in Maiduguri and in some villages - says the Bishop -. We need material and financial support to help these people. We have two categories of people to help: those who are still displaced and those who have returned to their villages of origin but do not have anything because everything has been destroyed by the devastating fury of Boko Haram; They have no food, no work".
"We need concrete help from the international community, so that the Nigerian youth do not grow up in ignorance and illiteracy. There are no basic necessities such as drinking water, food and medicines", highlights Mgr. Doeme, who promoted a petition to be sent to the representatives of the African Union, the European Union and the UN to ask for their help. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 12/11/2015)
