Catholic parish attacked in Cameroon

Armed militiamen seize church, kidnap five priests, one nun and two lay people

 

ACNFive priests, a nun and two lay people were kidnapped Friday afternoon by armed men at the church of Santa Maria in Nchang, in the diocese of Mamfé, western Cameroon. The assailants subsequently burned the church.

The news was communicated by the bishops of the ecclesiastical province of Bamenda, in the west of the country, near the Nigerian border. They affirm their «great shock and absolute horror» at what happened, which they consider «unprecedented» even in the climate of violence against the Church that they denounce. So far the motives for this «hateful act against the House of God and the Messengers of God» are unknown.

The prelates frame the event in the conflict that since 2016 have maintained the two Anglophone regions against the government of President Paul Biya, in power since 1982. Added to this is the presence on Cameroonian territory of the Islamist terrorist group Boko Haram.

In these last six years, «men and women of God have been the target of kidnappers, torturers and unscrupulous armed men,» say the bishops, denouncing «a wave of persecution against the hierarchy of the Church and all kinds of threatening messages to missionaries who have given their lives to work for the people.» Catholic, Baptist and Presbyterian centers are being attacked, sometimes by people who have benefited from their action: «This act has crossed the red line and we must say ‘enough'».

The bishops ask for the immediate release of the kidnapped, and for all Christians to pray for them and for the Church in Cameroon and to forgive the attackers «as Christ did on the Cross».

Caption (pie de foto): Church burned by attackers in Nchang, West Cameroon.