Our rectory, taken over by Boko Haram – Catholic Church

The Catholic Church on Thursday complained that the Boko Haram insurgents have taken over the parish rectory of its church and other houses of Christians in last week’s attack on Madagali in Adamawa state, Northeast Nigeria.

The church laid this complaint in an electronic press statement by the Director Catholic Social Communications in-charge of the Maiduguri Diocese, Rev. Fr. Gideon Obasogie who said that though the members of the outlawed sect has been known not to draw a line of demarcation on whom to or not to visit with mayhem but in recent time it seems that Christians and Christian institutions have been at the receiving end of the satanic group.

Obasogie said in Madagali, which is a local government that borders Borno and Adamawa states, and the closest town to Gwoza with a large number of Catholics, and members of other Christian denominations equally with a good number of Muslims, “the Whole town and the Parish rectory have been occupied by the terrorists, so many structures and items have been vandalized. Dozens killed and a lot of church structures have been burnt down.”

He decried that “Christians in the town are really in a terribly situation; a moment of great persecution.

“Christian men are caught and beheaded, the women are forced to become Muslim and are taken as wives to the terrorists. The houses of Christians that have fled are now occupied by the insurgents.

“Their cars are used by the terrorists. Some Muslim around identify Christian homes to be occupied and the Christians hiding were also identified and were killed. Strict Sharia Law had been promulgated, as observed by a woman who luckily escaped the death zone.”

He lamented that: “The situation as it is now has really and truly gone out of control. People are finding it really hard, citizens are been killed in their numbers.”

He said it is hoped that Nigeria would be real in handling the dwindling state of insecurity that has enveloped the entire North east.

The clergyman said the Catholic Church was compelled to close down all the churches on the major road linking Maiduguri and Adamawa state because of acts of terrorism.