Bishop Oliver Dashe Doeme of Maiduguri has accused the Nigerian government of failing to protect people following a spate of violence in the north of the country.
Churches were the targets of these attacks in towns like Damaturu, Maiduguri and Patiskum, with at least nine churches being attacked in Damaturu alone and over 100 people being killed. It is believed that the religious extremist group Boko Haram is behind the attacks.
The Bishop said that priests were forced to run for their lives when St Mary’s Catholic Church came under attack by militants.
“The church was completely burnt to ashes,” he said. “It was one of the biggest churches in the diocese.”
The Bishop added that local politicians were using the extremist groups for their own personal agendas.
“Religion is a very sensitive issue and the politicians can whip up hatred and suspicion very easily,” he said.
He urged the Nigerian government to beef up security, and make a “concerted effort” to restore law and order.
“If security had come earlier, this wouldn’t have happened. The police have let the people down.”
Human Rights Watch has condemned the sectarian violence as an “indefensible attack on human life”.