Participants in the three-day planned peaceful protests in Nigeria’s Catholic Diocese of Auchi have emphasized the need for improved security and called for an end to abductions targeting the Clergy that have resulted in deaths of some of the abductees.
Speaking to Time Africa on Thursday, the final day of the peaceful protests, a section of the protesters called for the enforcement of an anti-grazing law to curb the activities of armed herdsmen suspected of carrying out attacks.
“We mothers are crying! Our children are being killed. Our daughters are being raped. We can’t go to the farm, we can’t go to the market, we can’t even go to church without fear. We need help now!” Monica Nosa told Time Africa.
Monica lamented, “Hunger is killing us, and insecurity is making it worse. If we had security, we could farm and feed our families. But now, we live in constant fear. This must stop!”
“The government must pass and implement the anti-grazing policy so our forests can be cleared of these criminals. People should be able to go to their farms without fear of being kidnapped or killed,” another protester, Osagie Emafidon, said.
Osagie called for urgent deployment of security forces to protect vulnerable communities, and explained, “Fulani terrorists are now invading homes. They break down doors and abduct people from their own bedrooms. This shows a total failure of security in our region.”
On his part, James Ekemhenkhoele expressed concern about the ritual dimension of the killings, revealing that the killers now trade in human parts.
“Seeing these people in the forest, they’ve made it an obligation, a wilful, deliberate, wicked obligation, to rape, to kill, to maim in our forest. Even on the farms, they can just come to the farm and kill, and then they remove parts of the body. And some of these people, these herdsmen, also kill, they equally sell the parts of human bodies,” James said.
The March 25–27 protests that Auchi Catholic Diocese has realized included online campaigns against abductions and killings, a day of mourning, and a peaceful march with rosary recitation to demand increased security from the Nigerian government.
Mamadou Suleyman, a special advisor to the local government, has weighed in on the security challenge, outlining the latest efforts in addressing insecurity as voiced by the protesters.
“The executive chairman has been in Benin for the past three days addressing this security crisis,” Mamadou has been quoted as saying.
He told the protestors, “We understand your concerns, and we assure you that efforts are being made to tackle the issue. A special squad has already been redeployed to Auchi. We ask for patience as we continue working on this problem.”
On his part, the Director of Justice Development and Peace Commission (JDPC) in Auchi Diocese, Fr. Clement Anaedevha, has expressed concern about the trauma Priests and Christians experience amid persistent kidnappings and killings in the Nigerian Episcopal See.
In an interview, Fr. Clement said, “Priests have suffered immense trauma, killings, abductions, and assaults. Fear and restlessness have gripped the community. If this continues unchecked, it could lead to an outbreak of retaliatory violence.”
He added, “There is confusion in the air, and that confusion can generate chaos. People could take the law into their own hands. We have these Fulani people around here, and someone could go into the market and start attacking them indiscriminately. That would result in complete breakdown of law and order.”
The Nigerian Catholic Priest went on to express his frustration over ineffective policing. Referring to a recent kidnapping incident, he recalled, “From the first day to the tenth, the kidnappers used the same phone number, yet authorities claimed they were ‘tracking’ the call. They never came up with anything useful. We no longer trust this security regime.”
“If the government is not willing to act, then they should be prepared for the consequences. People are ready to defend themselves. That is the body language of everyone at the moment,” Fr. Clement said.
The Nigerian Catholic Priest who took part in the March 27 peaceful protests noted that the presence of armed herdsmen in Edo North is not accidental. “They have been here for decades, some for over 40 years. Communities that allow them to stay must be held accountable. Traditional rulers and local leaders who collude with these criminals by accepting bribes or livestock must be exposed,” he said.
As a way forward, the Director of JDPC in Auchi Diocese said “we will focus on community and environmental sensitization, encouraging people to report suspicious activity. We will also pressure the government to engage with local leaders and enforce security policies.”
The Nigerian Catholic Diocese has taken proactive steps to counter the insecurity, including establishing the Uduma Protection Squad in 2021, deploying drones for surveillance, and working closely with community trackers, said, noting that without government backing, these efforts remain insufficient.
Also speaking, the Parish Priest of St. Patrick Enwan Parish of Auchi Diocese, Fr. Terence Egwaogie, lamented gaps in government intervention over security challenges.
“The State Governors are not saying anything. The government is not addressing the issue. This protest is our way of pushing for action and advocating for security in our country,” Fr. Terence said.
He added, “We cannot continue like this. Strangers are coming into our land and terrorizing us. We need security in our own communities. This protest is a necessary step, and it must continue until our demands are met.”
“They kidnap our Priests and demand outrageous ransom amounts. Where do they expect us to get such money? They assume Priests have wealthy connections, but the truth is we are all struggling,” the Nigerian Catholic Priest said.
Nigeria’s Catholic Bishops have continually challenged the government to prioritize the security of the citizens.
(Story by Abah Anthony John)
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