The Catholic Diocese of Enugu on Tuesday held a Special Solidarity Mass and peaceful solemn procession for people killed by militias, especially those killed at a Catholic Church in Benue.
The mass was held by thousands of Catholic faithful at the Holy Ghost Catholic Cathedral, Ogui, Enugu.
The faithful and clergy within the diocese, after the mass that lasted for over an hour, also had a peaceful solemn procession within the vast Holy Ghost Catholic Cathedral compound for about two hours.
The faithful had the solemn procession while praying the rosary as well as calling for God’s intervention in the country’s security situation.
Speaking at the end of the procession, Bishop Callitus Onaga, said that the mass and solemn procession was in solidarity with Christians who had died due to activities of militia groups in the country.
Onaga, who was represented by the Vicar-General of the Diocese, Monsignor Luke Adike, said that it was regrettable that the perpetrators of the killings could not be arrested and prosecuted, especially those that killed innocent worshippers and their priests in Benue State.
He said: “What is the essence of government and living under a government if not for government to shoulder the responsibility of security for everybody.
“Close to a month now, no single arrest had been made in connection with the church massacre. It is disappointing, to say the least.’’
The bishop, however, prayed for the repose of the souls of the departed while urging all Nigerians to be “more security conscious”.
Earlier, in a homily during the mass, Rev. Fr. Nnamdi Nwankwo, urged Christians to rise up from their slumber and dedicate themselves to more prayers and participation in politics, to effect a true change.
Nwankwo, who is the Vicar-for-Priests in the Diocese, said that the recent happenings underscored the need for Christians to get their voter’s card in readiness for the 2019 elections.
He said: “Enough is enough. We cannot continue to bury people in their numbers each day in the country as if we are in a warlike situation.
“What we are saying here is the issue of security for everybody in the country, whether a Christian or not.
“There the need for all to get involved and make our government answerable and accountable to us.”
Nwankwo noted that each family, especially in the South-East must start operation “show your voter’s card’’ among its members, adding, “until we do this, the politicians will not take Nigerians serious”.
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