(Vatican Radio) The death toll from the attack by Islamist militant group Boko Haram near Nigeria’s northeastern city of Maiduguri has risen to 85, and many of the injured are in critical condition.Security and medical officials said the remains of a dozen victims were burnt beyond recognition in Saturday's attack when militants opened fire on residents, set fire to houses and targeted a crowd with suicide bombers.The attack was perpetrated against the community of Dalori in Borno State.It was the third attack this week suspected to have been carried out by the insurgent group - and the most deadly. Father Patrick Alumuku, director of communications of Abuja Diocese told Linda Bordoni that Nigerians feel the international community should provide support in this difficult time.Listen to the interview: Fr Alumuku explains that since it started losing control of territory thanks to intensified military action and a new strategy, Boko Haram has reverted to hit-an...
(Vatican Radio) The death toll from the attack by Islamist militant group Boko Haram near Nigeria’s northeastern city of Maiduguri has risen to 85, and many of the injured are in critical condition.
Security and medical officials said the remains of a dozen victims were burnt beyond recognition in Saturday's attack when militants opened fire on residents, set fire to houses and targeted a crowd with suicide bombers.
The attack was perpetrated against the community of Dalori in Borno State.
It was the third attack this week suspected to have been carried out by the insurgent group - and the most deadly.
Father Patrick Alumuku, director of communications of Abuja Diocese told Linda Bordoni that Nigerians feel the international community should provide support in this difficult time.
Listen to the interview:
Fr Alumuku explains that since it started losing control of territory thanks to intensified military action and a new strategy, Boko Haram has reverted to hit-and-run attacks on villages as well as suicide bombings on places of worship or markets.
Borno State is the heartland of the seven-year insurgency that seeks to establish an Islamist state.
Alumuku speaks of the over 2 million people who have been displaced, tens of thousands of them forced to seek shelter in camps near the city of Maiduguri and even as far away as Abuja.
He says that only the Church and other small groups are helping support the thousands of people in the camps.
Alumuku says the Cardinal of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan as well as the bishops and priests have visited the displaced and continue to do what they can providing food and other basic necessities.
He speaks of the feeling of isolation and lack of support Nigerians feel as neither the international community of the African Unity is offering support or solidarity.
"Many feel that at a moment such as this we have been abandoned by the international community - if you could only see what the diplaced people are going through..." he says.
And as for the African Union, he says that when there are crises in other nations it is the Nigerian community that helps out, and so now "with the great amount of difficulties the goverrnment has had to counter the insurgency, prevent the spread of violence and try to provide some support to the displaced the African community could do much more, no matter how little".
A Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish procession honoring the patroness of Cuba on Sept. 7, 2023. / Credit: Sacred Heart of Jesus parish in Havana, CubaACI Prensa Staff, Mar 28, 2024 / 16:00 pm (CNA).The regime of President Miguel Díaz-Canel in Cuba has prohibited several Holy Week processions in different cities of the country, including the El Vedado area of Havana as well as in Bayamo, a town that was the scene of major protests earlier this month.Last week, ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language news partner, reported on the prohibition of processions in the Diocese of the Most Holy Savior located in the Bayamo-Manzanillo area in the province of Granma, due to the regime's fear that new protests would break out. The prohibition has been extended to the capital, Havana, according to a Catholic priest.In a March 25 Facebook post, Father Lester Zayas, pastor of Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in the El Vedado business district of Havana, reported that the day before he had been notifie...
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