By Neta Nwosu

The Catholic Archbishop of the Metropolitan See of Lagos, Most Rev. (Dr.) Alfred Adewale Martins, has called on all priests, religious, and lay faithful in the Archdiocese to observeSunday, June 22, 2025, as a Day of Prayer for Peace and Protest Against Violence.

This directive was contained in a circular dated June 17, 2025, titled “The Killings in Benue andOther States: A Call for Prayers in the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos.” The Archbishopexpressed deep sorrow and moral outrage at what he described as “another orgy of violence”which erupted on the night of June 13 to 14 in Yelewata, Benue State.

The attack, he noted, followed a disturbingly familiar pattern seen in other rural communities inBenue and Enugu States, where displaced persons were murdered in their sleep in places where they had sought refuge.

“Heaven and earth are united in condemnation of this pain that is continually being inflicted on people that are vulnerable and unprotected by the security apparatus of the country,” Archbishop Martins stated.

He lamented the ongoing bloodshed, questioning the sincerity and competence of political leaders and security forces, especially in Benue State. The prelate described the sense of being “deliberately targeted” among affected communities as palpable and concerning, particularly because many of these attacks have occurred in Christian-populated areas.

“As human beings, we are all pained; as Christians, we feel violated,” he wrote. “That there has not been a solution to the problem for so many years is an indictment on the efficiency of our security system and the sincerity of the politicians.”

While acknowledging that clergy are not politicians or security experts, Archbishop Martins reaffirmed the Church’s spiritual mandate to intercede through prayer. “We have the assurance of our Lord and Master that the gates of hell shall not prevail against His Church,” he stated.

To this end, all parishes in the Archdiocese are instructed to dedicate every Mass on June 22 to seeking divine intervention to end the violence in Nigeria. In addition, religious congregations, lay associations, families, and individuals are urged to pray the Rosary for peace and justice.

The Archbishop emphasised that the Archdiocese’s protest will not take the form of street demonstrations but will be expressed through vocal condemnation during homilies and exhortations on the day of prayer.

“Our protest shall not be in the streets but in the form of vocal condemnation of the continuous violation of the lives and properties of people, led by the priests in their exhortations on the Sunday, 22nd June 2025.”

He further directed parishes to organise rosary processions within their church compounds in the evening, to be led by Marian sodalities, the Sacred Heart Associations, and the Catholic Charismatic Renewal.

“Let us all, with one voice, call on the security agencies and governments at all levels in our country not to look away from the suffering of the people of Benue and other states that has been going on for far too long,” he urged.

The Archbishop also expressed gratitude to the Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, for publicly drawing international attention to the Benue massacre and ongoing violence in other parts of Nigeria. In solidarity with the Pope’s call for global prayer, he said, the Lagos Archdiocese would “not cease praying.”

On a final note, he invited all Catholics to turn to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of Peace and Help of Christians, asking her intercession for the healing and protection of afflicted communities.

“God bless you all,” the Archbishop signed off.