| By Kielce Gussie
On Palm Sunday, at least 27 people were killed in an attack on the Angwan Rukuba community in Jos North district in central Nigeria. After this incident, many Catholic Dioceses throughout the country will not hold their Easter Vigil Mass at night. Rather, it will be celebrated earlier in the evening for security concerns.
For example, the Diocese of Ondo released a statement on March 30 announcing Bishop Jude Ayodeji Arogundade’s decision to move the Easter Vigil up to 5p.m. on Holy Saturday. The message, signed by the diocesan chancellor, Fr. Michael O. Eniayeju, explains the reason for the shift, saying it is due to “the realities of our time, particularly the prevailing insecurity in our country and our State and in response to pastoral prudence and sensitivity” of the bishop.
According to the Vatican’s Fides news agency, the message invites the clergy, religious and faithful to “remain steadfast in the Christian faith in the resurrection of our Lord, which the Easter Vigil solemnly celebrates”. But also urges them to be attentive as “security is everybody’s concern.”
It ends by strongly directing “all parishes and communities” to “beef up their security strategies and let us continually pray for peace and protection in our land.”
The diocesan message comes just a day after the Palm Sunday attack. The perpetrators charged the Angwan Rukuba community around 7:30p.m. as people were completing daily tasks. Panic erupted after shots were fired indiscriminately.
Leaders of different religious denominations unanimously condemned the attack. The Plateau State Chapter of Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) described it as a barbaric and senseless act and called on authorities to investigate the assault. JNI is the parent organization for various Muslim groups in Nigeria.
JNI issued a statement, signed by its secretary, strongly condemning the attack, calling it “a grave threat to peace and coexistence in Plateau State.” It stresses the importance of defending the sanctity of human life, which “must never be violated under any circumstances.”
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