Togo: Religious Leaders Condemn 'Disproportionate' Use of Force Against Protesters

"We condemn in the strongest possible terms the unacceptable and disproportionate violence, regardless of its origin, perpetrators, or justification," the bishops of Togo issued a… Read more »

Guinea Bissau: New Bishop of Bafatà - Listening, Dialogue, and Walking With the People Are Among His Priorities

"I want to be a pastor present in the villages, in our most remote communities, in our wounded hearts," said Victor Luís Quematcha (OFM) in his homily at the first Holy Mass… Read more »

Nigeria: Auxiliary Bishop of Minna - 'It Is Inexplicable That Such Cruelty Was Inflicted On Hundreds of People'

"What happened in Makurdi is truly horrible," said the Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Minna, Luka Sylvester Gopep, to Fides, in a commentary on the massacre that occurred on… Read more »

Nigeria: 'The Survivors of the Yelwata Massacre Are Terrified and Lack Everything'

"The survivors of the massacre are terrified; they have suffered and seen unspeakable violence" Father Remigius Ihyula, Coordinator of the Development, Justice and Peace Commission… Read more »

Nigeria: Catholic Priest Kidnapped - He Worked As a Chaplain in Alaska and Wanted to Help Boko Haram Victims in Nigeria

"I was able to speak with Father Afina. He is well and in good health. We hope he can be released soon," said John Bogna Bakeni, Auxiliary Bishop of Maiduguri (capital of Borno… Read more »

Benin: Bishops Express Solidarity With the Families of the Victims - Two Bloody Attacks By Jihadists in Three Months Worry the Population

"The Bishops of Benin express their deepest sympathy to the entire nation and to the grieving families of our soldiers who fell in the line of duty," said the Bishops of Benin on… Read more »

Burkina Faso: Jihadists Intensify Attacks in Several Towns in the Country

The Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), a Sahelian jihadist group linked to al-Qaeda, has intensified its attacks against military and civilian targets in Burkina… Read more »

Cameroon: Archbishop of Garoua - 'Father Mbaibarem Is Still in the Hands of the Kidnappers'

"Father Mbaibarem is still in the hands of the kidnappers. From time to time, they contact some locals to demand a ransom for his release," Archbishop Faustin Ambassa Ndjodo of… Read more »

Nigeria: Seven Capuchin Friars Die in a Tragic Road Accident

Seven Capuchin Friars, members of the Custody of St. Francis and St. Clare of the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin in Nigeria, lost their lives in a serious traffic accident that… Read more »

Nigeria: The Serious Security Situation in Imo State Also Affects Priests and Religious

"The situation is dire. Kidnappings for ransom, abductions for organ harvesting, and violent invasions of people's lands and farms are now commonplace across Imo State and Igbo… Read more »

Africa: New Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies Appointed

Cardinal Luis Antonio G. Tagle, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization (Section for First Evangelization and New Churches), appointed, on March 25, 2025, Father Anawia… Read more »

Nigeria: Father Ibrahim Amos, Kidnapped From His Home On April 24, Is Free

Father Ibrahim Amos, parish priest of St. Gerald Quasi Church in Kurmin Risga, a village in the Kauru district of Kaduna state in northwestern Nigeria, has been released. This was… Read more »

Cameroon: Release of an 83-Year-Old Missionary and His Assistant After 48 Hours

The kidnapping and subsequent release, within 48 hours, of an 83-year-old British missionary and his Cameroonian assistant have brought the forgotten conflict in the… Read more »

Cameroon: Bishops Propose a Code of Conduct in View of the Presidential Election

"Integrity, humility, modesty, and moral leadership qualities." These are the qualities that the bishops of Cameroon believe the ideal candidate for the upcoming presidential… Read more »

Nigeria: Father John Ubaechu, Kidnapped On Sunday 23 March, Has Been Released

Nigerian priest John Ubaechu, kidnapped on Sunday, March 23, has been released (see Fides, 24/3/2025). This was announced yesterday, March 26, by the Archdiocese of Owerri in a… Read more »

Nigeria: A Catholic Priest Kidnapped and Police Free Another Just Hours After the Abduction

The wave of priest kidnappings in Nigeria continues unabated. Rev. Fr. John Ubaechu, Parish Priest of Holy Family Catholic Church Izombe, was kidnapped on the evening of Sunday, 23… Read more »

Nigeria: 145 Priests Kidnapped in 10 Years, 11 of Whom Have Been Killed and 4 Still Missing

In the last 10 years, 145 priests have been kidnapped in Nigeria. This is evident from the analysis carried out by the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN), which collected data… Read more »

Nigeria: President Tinubu Responds to Archbishop Ugorji's Remarks On the State of Nigeria

The description of the state of the nation made by Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, Archbishop of Owerri and President of the Bishops' Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), during the opening of the… Read more »

Nigeria: The Bishops - 'Do Not Close Schools for Five Weeks During the Ramadan Period'

The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria have expressed concern about the maintenance of the secular nature of the country in relation to the proposal of some northern states of… Read more »

Nigeria: Catholic Priest Kidnapped.

A Catholic priest was kidnapped yesterday morning, February 6. He is Fr. Cornellus Manzak Damulak, who studies at Veritas University in Abuja, the federal capital. According to the… Read more »

Burkina Faso: Appointment of the Bishop of Tenkodogo

The Holy Father has appointed Rev. Fr. David Koudougou, of the clergy of Tenkodogo, until now Diocesan Administrator of the same Diocese, as Bishop of the Diocese of Tenkodogo. Read more »

Nigeria: Poverty, Food Insecurity, Inadequate Health Care and High Cost of Living

In addition to the serious waves of violence that are affecting the Nigerian population, including kidnappings, clashes, terrorist attacks and brutal murders, there is poverty,… Read more »