Reported by Musa Antiketu,| Journalist at Obaland magazine.
The Catholic Bishop of Maiduguri Diocese, Most Rev. Oliver Dashe Doeme, has called on Christians to intensify their prayers for an end to Boko Haram insurgency and other forms of violent extremism affecting communities in Nigeria’s North-East.
Bishop Doeme, who has led the Maiduguri Diocese through years of insurgency, has consistently emphasized the importance of prayer alongside efforts to restore peace and security in the region. His message reflects the Catholic Church’s long-standing spiritual response to the violence that has devastated communities, displaced families and disrupted religious and social life across Borno State.
In remarks reported by Nigerian media, the bishop urged Christians to pray for the military and for the eventual defeat of insurgent forces. He argued that the battle against Boko Haram is not exclusively a physical confrontation but also has a spiritual dimension requiring sustained faith and prayer.
In 2017, Vanguard reported that Bishop Dashe appealed to Nigerians to offer prayers for the military, noting that troops had recorded successes in operations against Boko Haram but still needed spiritual support. Tribune Online similarly reported that the bishop described intensive prayer as necessary to confront what he regarded as the spiritual dimension of the insurgency.
The bishop’s emphasis on prayer has also been closely associated with his devotion to the Rosary. In 2021, Aid to the Church in Need reported that Bishop Doeme called on Catholics around the world to pray the Rosary for an end to Islamist violence in Nigeria. He said continued prayer and devotion would contribute to defeating the forces responsible for violence.
ACI Africa also reported in 2021 that the Maiduguri bishop appealed for fervent prayers through the Blessed Virgin Mary, particularly the Rosary, as part of efforts to bring an end to violence perpetrated by Islamist militants.
Bishop Doeme’s position is shaped by the experience of the Maiduguri Diocese, one of the areas most severely affected by the Boko Haram conflict. The insurgency has resulted in deaths, displacement, destruction of homes and religious institutions, and prolonged disruption to communities across Borno and neighbouring states.
The bishop has previously recounted a religious experience in which he said a sword offered to him by Jesus Christ transformed into a Rosary, accompanied by a message foretelling Boko Haram’s defeat. That account has become closely linked to the Rosary campaign associated with his diocese and has been reported by Catholic media internationally.
However, the call for prayer should not be interpreted as a substitute for Nigeria’s broader security and humanitarian responses. The fight against insurgency requires coordinated military and intelligence operations, protection of civilians, humanitarian assistance, rehabilitation of affected communities and measures addressing the conditions that allow violent extremist groups to persist.
For communities in Borno that have endured years of insecurity, Bishop Doeme’s message therefore represents both a religious appeal and an expression of hope. His repeated calls for prayer underline the continuing desire among affected populations for lasting peace, the safe return of displaced persons and the restoration of normal life.
As Nigeria continues to confront insecurity in the North-East, the bishop’s latest appeal places faith at the centre of his message while reinforcing a broader call for Nigerians to support efforts aimed at securing lasting peace.
Sources
Catholic Bishop Oliver Dashe Doeme of Maiduguri calls for intensified prayers for the defeat of Boko Haram and an end to insecurity in Nigeria’s North-East.