Nigeria's Bishop of Maiduguri grapples with increase of widows

The Diocese of Maiduguri in Northeast Nigeria is the epicentre of Boko Haram terrorist activities. The deaths and destruction in the diocese have taken such a toll that the Bishop of the diocese, Right Rev Olive Doeme Dashe has been forced to start a new apostolate to widows and orphans of the diocese. The initiative to form St. Judith’s Catholic Widows/Orphans Association reflects the suffering at the hands of Boko Haram in the region.

The aims and objectives of St. Judith’s Catholic Widows/Orphans Association are to bring all widows and orphans together so that they can share their peculiar experiences with the view to strengthen and encourage them in their faith. The idea is also for the Church in the diocese to help widows and orphans in a much more organised manner. Bishop Doeme Dashe quotes James 1:27 as his inspiration for starting the apostolate:  “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained from the world”.

The developments were was disclosed to Vatican Radio’s English Africa Service, by the Director of Social Communications in Maiduguri Diocese, Fr. Gideon Obasogie together with his counterpart, Fr. Timothy Augustine.

In all, the Diocese of Maiduguri is said to be looking after 2 000 women widowed by the Boko Haram insurgency in the three Northeastern States of Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa. The number of widows is set to grow as more women come forward to seek assistance.

Speaking to the widows of the newly formed St. Judith’s Catholic Widows/Orphans Association, Bishop Olive Doeme Dashe encouraged the widows not to give up on their faith but to hold on firmly to it. He told the widows that their husbands who have been martyred by Boko Haram are also praying them. According to the Bishop, the initiative to empower the widows is in keeping with Christ’s teaching of concern for those in need. He spoke of how touched he was after listening to some of the difficult experiences, in a one-on–one session, held with some of the widows.

Bishop Olive Doeme Dashe has started another initiative whereby the diocese presents food and other essential items such as soap to more than 4 000 internally displaced persons.  The first such presentation of the food items was done, on behalf of the diocese, by the secretary of the Diocese of Maiduguri, Very Rev Fr John Bogna Bakeni. Among the many items distributed were over 80 bags of grain, 20 bags of beans, rice, clothes and bottled water. The food items were presented to Catholics and non-Catholics alike.

Meanwhile the Diocese of Maiduguri has released figures which they say document the deaths, damages to property and atrocities caused by Boko Haram. In a press release, the numbers of deaths released are for the period between 2009 and 2014. These numbers are based on reports compiled by Maiduguri Diocesan officials. The figures cover three States in Northeastern Nigeria from Potiskum in Yobe state to Hong in Adamawa state.  The figures speak of several hundreds of people killed by Boko Haram; more than 50 Catholic Churches and rectories burnt down; more than 90 000 internally displaced persons and serious disruption to the education of children and youth.

All schools in the diocese have been adversely affected as many people flee the insecurity in the area. Several schools have ceased to operate including 9 Catholic schools that have shut down. 3 Catholic schools are among the many that have been burnt down. There has been an incredible mass exodus of people from the region to other parts of Nigeria and even to neighbouring countries.

Many teachers have deserted their teaching posts for fear of the terrorists. The few teachers who still remain in Catholic schools live in constant fear of attacks from Boko Haram. Apart from that, they also now have to contend with reduced salaries because the schools have less students and therefore school fees have equally dwindled. The youth in these communities have fled for fear of being forcibly conscripted as members of Boko Haram.

(Fr. Paul Samasumo) e-mail: engafrica@vatiradio.va