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The Nigerian army have expressed joy for the release of hostages held by the Boko Haram Islamist sect and sorrow for the discovery of mass graves

By VOICE OF THE PERSECUTED on April 29, 2015 • ( 0 )

We understand that the Nigerian Army have rescued some 200-300 girls and women from the territories that Boko Haram had controlled. One report stated that some could be the girls from Chibok. Another report say’s that they are investigating to find out if some of these women and girls were Boko Haram wives. We are trying to gain more information and verify these reports. The Fides Agency reports that these are not the girls from Chibok. The Army has uncovered shallow mass graves from the many victims of this Christian Holocaust. Our hearts and prayer go out to the people of Nigeria. As Fides states there are 150,000 affected in a Maiduguri diocese alone. With 5,000 known killed, and 100,000 fleeing. The ones who could flee are facing enormous challenges, without housing, food, clothing and many without loved ones. We will keep you updated as we gain more information.

Abuja (Agenzia Fides) – The Nigerian army have expressed joy for the release of hostages held by the Boko Haram Islamist sect, but also sorrow for the discovery of mass graves where many victims were buried. About 300 women and girls were rescued during the military offensive in the Sambisa forest, considered the stronghold of Boko Haram. The girls rescued are not the 200 girls abducted a year ago in the school in Chibok, whose story had caused a stir around the world.

Last week about twenty graves were discovered where hundreds of decomposing bodies had been buried, including those of women and children, in Damasak, Borno State city in the north east of Nigeria, which had fallen in the past year under the control of Boko Haram. The victims were killed during the retreat of the men of the Islamist sect, pressed by the Nigerian military.

“Extremists continue to act because the military have not been able to hit all their strongholds, and I am not surprised that they have attacked new people”, said to “Aid to the Church in Need” His Exc. Mgr. Oliver Dashe Doeme, Archbishop of Maiduguri, capital of Borno State, whose diocese has been particularly affected by the violence of Boko Haram. According to the latest data, 5 thousand of the 125 thousand Catholics have been killed by extremists and 100 thousand have fled, including 26 of the 46 diocesan priests, 30 religious women, and more than 200 catechists. Of the 40 parish centers, 22 are currently empty or occupied by Boko Haram, while 350 churches have been destroyed. Finally three of the four Catholic schools have been closed. Mgr. Doeme expressed hope that the advance of the military marks “the beginning of the end of Boko Haram”.