Catholic Archbishop of Ibadan Archdiocese, Bishop Gabriel Abegunrin yesterday said the federal government was yet to sympathise with the Catholic Church on the killings of two of its priests, Fr. Joseph Gorand Fr. Felix Tyolaha.
The two priests from Mbalom Markudi Diocese Benue state alongwith 17 parishioners were killed by gunmen on 24th of April 2018. Bishop Abegunrin made this known in Ibadan while leading hundreds ofmembers of the Catholic Arch Dioceses, Ibadan, on protest over the Benue killings. He disclosed that the federal government’s failure to console orsympathise with the Catholic Church amounts to insensitivity, saying, “it is unfortunate that no words of sympathy or consolation has been addressed to the Catholic community since two priests were murdered in Benue state last month.
“It will interest your Excellency to know that until this moment no words of sympathy or consolation has been addressed to the Catholic community in Nigeria for our loss, which is a very serious indictment on this administration. We are baffl ed and highly disappointed with this insensitivity,” he said. The Catholic Bishop pointed out that the nationwide protest by the Catholic Church members was to register their voice in kicking against unwanted killing in the country. “We gathered here to register our displeasure over the killings in different parts of the country, which has made Nigeria a killing field. You will recall that on 24th of April 2018, two of our priests; Fr. Joseph Gor and Fr. Felix Tyolaha from Mbalom, Markudi Diocese, Benue state along with 17 parishioners were gruesomely murdered while preparing for morning mass on that faithful day,” he said.