- Title: NIGERIA: Christians in Nigeria pray for safe return of abducted school students
- Date: 18th May 2014
- Summary: ABUJA, NIGERIA (MAY 18, 2014) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PEOPLE PRAYING VARIOUS OF REVEREND FATHER VICTOR VACCHIA PRAYING (SOUNDBITE) (English) REVEREND FATHER, VICTOR VACCHIA SAYING: "I think Christians and Muslims alike are not being spared, I see it more from the perspective of terrorism, we are living in a culture of death. It is not only Boko Haram, kidnappers are everywhere, armed robbers are everywhere. I see this as a menace that really needs to be handled from a spiritual and a physical angle." PEOPLE PRAYING VARIOUS OF REVEREND FATHER PRAYING STATUE OF JESUS CHRIST VARIOUS OF PEOPLE PRAYING (SOUNDBITE) (English) CATHOLIC WORSHIPPER, ADEOLA BASSEY, SAYING: "Though as a mother we need to pray for those kids, for their release, because we feel concerned, we feel touched. For over a month now, these girls have been abducted and we don't know exactly where they are, so this gives us, a whole country, concern, these children, we don't know where they are being kept, so we pray to Almighty Father, where ever they are, let God touch those, whoever that is in charge or in care of the children to release them." VARIOUS OF A STATUE OF THE VIRGIN MARY VARIOUS OF CHILDREN PRAYING (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTOR, BRUNO IWUOHA, SAYING: "All churches are praying to the creator of life, the creator of those children and the creator of Boko Haram. I think with Him, with His power, with His intervention, everything will be achieved. That's why we are praying, that's why every church all over the world are now glued towards praying for God to touch the heart of these big boys called Boko Haram." VARIOUS OF REVEREND FATHER GIVING THE HOLY COMMUNION
- Embargoed: 2nd June 2014 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Nigeria
- Country: Nigeria
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA5K0Z5S1PDGSQ4F6EJ4I4PJHLD
- Story Text: Roman Catholic worshippers on Sunday (May 18) took time to pray for the safe return of the over 200 schoolgirls abducted over a month ago by Boko Haram militants.
The militants have waged a war in Nigeria for several years, killing people and clamoring for the oil rich nation to become an Islamist state.
Associate priest of the Twelve Apostles Catholic church, Reverend Father Victor Vaachia says all faiths were under threat from the group.
"I think Christians and Muslims alike are not being spared, I see it more from the perspective of terrorism, we are living in a culture of death. It is not only Boko Haram, kidnappers are everywhere, armed robbers are everywhere. I see this as a menace that really needs to be handled from a spiritual and a physical angle," he said.
On Saturday, (May 17), Nigeria's president Goodluck Jonathan was in France for a summit with leaders from the West and West African countries.
They agreed to work together to wage a "total war" on Boko Haram by sharing intelligence, coordinating actions and monitoring borders.
Catholic worshipper Adeola Bassey said she prays for God to touch the hearts of the kidnappers.
"Though as a mother we need to pray for those kids, for their release, because we feel concerned, we feel touched. For over a month now, these girls have been abducted and we don't know exactly where they are, so this gives us, a whole country, concern, these children, we don't know where they are being kept, so we pray to Almighty Father, where ever they are, let God touch those, whoever that is in charge or in care of the children to release them," says Adeola.
Children also offered their prayers for the safe return of the girls.
Nigerian actor, Bruno Iwuoha lent his support for the girls too.
"All churches are praying to the Creator of life, the Creator of those children and the Creator of Boko Haram. I think with Him, with His power, with His intervention, everything will be achieved. That's why we are praying, that's why every church all over the world are now glued towards praying for God to touch the heart of these big boys called Boko Haram," he said.
The militant group Boko Haram have been fighting for five years, bombing and attacking civilians and security forces.
It took the kidnap of the Chibok schoolgirls for the attention of the world to finally focus on them. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2014. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
