Nigerians bury remains of victims of Christmas bombing
(February 03, 2012) Officials of the Nigerian Archdiocese of Abuja celebrated Mass
on Wednesday for the souls of 18 victims of the Christmas bombings at St. Theresa
Catholic Church, and buried the remains in the church grounds. Archbishop John Onaiyekan
of Abuja told about 2,000 people gathered in the church that "those who killed others,
either in the name of their faith or ideology, are murderers.'' He called on Christians
in Nigeria, St. Theresa parishioners and those who lost loved ones in the bomb blasts
to forgive those who ordered the killings and to not consider revenge. The Islamist
group Boko Haram took credit for a series of Christmas attacks, in which more than
40 people were killed. Families, sympathizers, mourners and relatives of the deceased
shed tears during the Mass with the coffins in the church. "Beyond forgiveness, let
us pray for the conversion of those who have allowed themselves to be used by the
devil to perpetrate such a diabolic act, targeting and killing innocent men, women
and children," Archbishop Onaiyekan said. He asked for constant prayers for those
in charge of security of Nigeria, that they "will have the wisdom to know how best
to tackle the problem on our hands and the courage to do what needs to be done. Nigeria's
bishops have described the Christmas bombings as the equivalent of a declaration of
war against the nation.