Speaking after the Christmas Eve attack where a priest was abducted, Bishop Doeme told Aid to the Church in Need: “One thing that Boko Haram will never take from us is our faith.”

“We will never allow our faith to be taken away by any evil. Our faith is becoming stronger and stronger. 100 people were baptized in one parish on Christmas Eve. People are so committed.”

Despite a period of violent conflict that has, according to Intersociety a Nigerian human rights organisation, killed up to 12,000 Christians since June 2015, Bishop Doeme said that Boko Haram’s actions were in fact strengthening the Christian faith.

He said: “Last year in my diocese we had more Catholics than when there was no Boko Haram crisis. As long as the kingdom of God continues, no evil human forces will overcome it. Over 200 churches have been burned down, as well as schools, but we will not be defeated.”

He added: “We are a people of faith and, in terms of the Church, Boko Haram is not the only evil we have faced. We are deeply devoted to Mary. God will crush Boko Haram in his own time.”

Source: Aleteia.org