Father Mom’s words underscore a resilient faith amid persecution, with the Church continuing to serve as a beacon of hope in Nigeria’s troubled regions.
Newsroom (12/09/2025, Gaudium Press )Father Vealumun Paul Ansbert Mom, superior general of the Via Christi Society, has condemned the escalating insecurity in Nigeria’s Makurdi Diocese, describing it as a deliberate persecution of Christians. Speaking to ACI Africa on Sept. 7 during a canonical visit to St. Matthew Kuchikau Parish in the Diocese of Lafia, Father Mom detailed the devastating impact of violence in Benue state and other north-central regions.
“The situation is dire,” Father Mom said. “St. Paul Parish Ayititwa in Katsina-Ala Diocese was burnt to the ground—parish house, rectory, church, all reduced to ashes. This is persecution of Christians, plain and simple. The evidence is undeniable.”
The priest, a native of Benue state, shared a personal toll: “I no longer have a village to return to. My community has been wiped out, its people driven away by killer herders.” He recounted the loss of two cousins in the destruction of Yelewata community and another shot on his farm just weeks ago. “These are targeted attacks,” he said. “In some areas, Christianity is simply not allowed to flourish.”
Father Mom highlighted the perilous conditions faced by clergy, who remain in volatile regions despite the absence of government officials. “Many parishes and outstations in Makurdi Diocese have shut down due to insecurity,” he said. “Local government chairmen have fled to Makurdi, but our priests stay. They go to sleep each night unsure if they’ll wake up, yet they remain.”
Urging action from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, Father Mom criticized the government’s denial of the crisis. “The official narrative dismisses the reality, but we see it firsthand. Churches are destroyed, priests displaced, and Christians persecuted. Government presence in these areas is virtually nonexistent, save for soldiers.”
Despite these challenges, Father Mom emphasized the Catholic Church’s commitment to collaboration with the state. “We are not enemies of the government. We pray for our leaders and wish them well, as Scripture commands. But as a moral voice, we must highlight the people’s suffering.”
Challenges to Priestly Vocations
Father Mom also addressed the declining interest in priestly and religious vocations, attributing it to a secular, materialistic culture. “Training priests is tougher now,” he said. “Young people often lack the commitment needed for a life of sacrifice.”
Rejecting the notion that economic hardship is the primary barrier, he noted that the Via Christi Society funds seminarians’ training. “Materialism, not poverty, is the issue,” he said. “If you chase wealth and comfort, the priesthood isn’t for you. Our priests serve in remote, dangerous missions where sacrifice is the currency.”
Quoting Scripture, Father Mom added, “‘Foxes have holes, birds have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.’ Priesthood demands surrender, not wealth.”
A Mission of Resilience
Father Mom cited examples of Via Christi priests’ dedication. In Makurdi’s flashpoints like Udei, Adaka, Aondona, and Naka, priests remain steadfast. In Bauchi, one priest’s solar power installation became a village’s sole light source. In the Caribbean, a Via Christi priest sheltered a community in his church basement during hurricanes in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Reflecting on the society’s mission, Father Mom credited divine providence, a principle instilled by founder Father Angus Fraser. “Even when obstacles seem insurmountable, divine providence carries us forward,” he said. “That’s what sustains us in Nigeria and beyond.”
As violence and insecurity persist, Father Mom’s words underscore a resilient faith amid persecution, with the Church continuing to serve as a beacon of hope in Nigeria’s troubled regions.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from CNA
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