Archbishop encourages prayer to entrust Nigeria to Mary amid threats of continued violence

His Excellency the Most Reverend John Olorunfemi Onaiyekan, Archbishop of Abuja, addressed a pastoral letter to his faithful in which he warned of text messages

that threaten the existence of plans by some Muslim groups to massacre Christians in the North on a specific night. Many people have been seriously shaken by such utterances. Given the experience of the past, it is understandable that one would not dismiss such texts as empty threats. We cannot take chances with what has become a matter of life or death.

While encouraging his faithful to count on the protection of the civic authorities - which he says Christians have a right to expect - Archbishop Onaiyeken also said Christians in the north of Nigeria must "be vigilant and security conscious all around us: in our homes, places of work and above all in our places of worship."

He also instructed two prayer to be prayed at the conclusion of each celebration of the Holy Mass: a Prayer for Nigeria in Distress and the Memorare.

Boko Harams orders Christians to leave the north of Nigeria

His Excellency the Most Reverend John Onaiyekan, Archbishop of Abuja, has asked Nigerians to ignore a recent threat made by the Muslim terrorist group Boko Haram responsible for the deaths of at least 200 people following a series of five bomb attacks at Christian churches on Christmas Day.

Following President Goodluck Jonathan's declaration of a state of emergency, a spokesman for Boko Haram demanded, under threat of death, Christians to leave the north of Nigeria.  The "southerners" in the north have three days to return to the south.

Noting that Boko Haram does not speak for all Muslims, Archbishop Onaiyekan said:

First of all, I think I will be right to say that Boko Haram does not represent the authentic voice of the Muslims of Nigeria. The leaders of Islam in Nigeria have clearly disowned them. So, I do not know what has given them the feelings that they can speak on behalf of all Nigerian Muslims, or northern Muslims, let alone giving instructions to them to do anything.

He also said,

I believe firmly that, whatever desire to drive a wedge between Christians and Muslims may be, the fact is that the attack has rather brought us together since Muslims have been showing us expressions of condolences and sympathy, and they have been condemning what has happened.