By Abah Anthony John

Something interesting and unexpected happened at the primary elections of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party in June. Where the country would have assumed that new faces would step forward and vie for the party’s flag ahead of the 2026 general elections, instead, dozens of cabinet ministers, former directors of intelligence, and former Members of Parliament declared their intention to seek parliamentary seats.

The judicial vicar of Nigeria’s Catholic Diocese of Port Harcourt has urged Christians in the West African nation to adopt a balanced approach of nonviolence while taking necessary steps to defend themselves in the face of growing persecution.

In an interview with ACI Africa, the sister service of EWTN News in Africa, following the resurgence of violence in Nigeria, Monsignor Pius Barinaadaa Kii stated that although Christianity promotes peace, believers must not ignore the need to protect their lives. 

“Christian persecution in Nigeria is real. It is more pronounced in some parts of the country than others,” he said during the May 4 interview.

He added: “Even though we adopt a nonviolent posture, we also have a necessary obligation to defend our lives and to defend ourselves to any extent that we can.” Addressing concerns about insecurity and targeted attacks on Christians, Kii reiterated the Church’s long-standing commitment to peace while clarifying that this does not preclude self-defense.

He made reference to the teachings of Jesus Christ, explaining that while Christ advocated nonviolence, there were moments when he acknowledged the need for defense. “Our Lord was a nonviolent person, because violence always begets violence,” he said.

He however pointed to a biblical moment involving Peter to underscore his argument, saying: “There was a moment in the life of Christ when he told Peter, ‘Sheath your sword, the moment will come when you will need it.’” The Nigerian priest emphasized that Christians must remain vigilant and responsible in safeguarding their lives, especially in regions where attacks have become frequent.

Kii also addressed Nigeria’s current economic challenges, acknowledging the hardship faced by citizens while expressing cautious optimism about ongoing reforms. He urged Nigerians to remain patient and forward-looking despite the difficulties.

“Nigeria has been in a situation for a very long time,” he noted, adding that while reforms are “very biting,” they are necessary steps toward long-term stability. “The president himself said it will not be easy, but we should prepare for a rough ride so that we have a smoother ride tomorrow,” he said.

A canon lawyer, Kii expressed hope that the economic measures being implemented would eventually yield positive outcomes, likening the expected turnaround to the joy of Easter following the sorrow of Good Friday. “We hope and pray that all the reforms will be quick for us at Easter in this country tomorrow,” he said.

Reflecting on Nigeria’s political future, particularly the 2027 general elections, Kii called for trust in divine providence and a renewed sense of faith among citizens. He urged Nigerians not to lose hope, emphasizing that God remains in control of the nation’s destiny.

“God remains God on his own terms. Let God be God on his own terms,” he said.

Kii said faith in God’s plan is essential in navigating both political uncertainties and national challenges. He reassured Nigerians that the country is on a divinely guided path. “God knows what he is doing in our country. God knows where he is taking our country to,” he said.

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In southern Lebanon, the village of Yaroun has drawn widespread attention after images and video circulated showing the demolition, allegedly by Israeli forces, of a monastery and Catholic school belonging to the Salvatorian Sisters.

Yarounʼs mayor, Adib Ajaka, rejected claims by the Israeli army that it did not know the buildings were religious places, and the Council of Melkite Greek Catholic Bishops in Lebanon urged the Lebanese government and the United Nations “to protect the property of civilians and religious institutions, citing in particular the village of Yaroun,” according to the Associated Press.

Speaking to ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News, Ajaka clarified that some media outlets have been recirculating images of a destroyed church as if they were from the latest incident, but the church itself had already been targeted multiple times since 2024. He stressed that the most recent incident concerns the demolition of the monastery and the school.

Responding to the Israeli army’s claim that “there were no indications that it was a religious building,” Ajaqa rejected the statement as unconvincing, noting that the site was clearly identifiable, bearing a cross and a statue of the Virgin Mary.

He also pointed out that the church had been targeted previously and that footage from 2024 showed the deliberate destruction of a statue of St. George.

Adib Ajaka, mayor of the village of Yaroun, is pictured with the apostolic nuncio to Lebanon, Archbishop Paolo Borgia. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Adib Ajaka

Ajaka said images published by Israel showing the diocese and a nearby clinic were used to suggest that the monastery had not been destroyed, but in reality they referred to a separate building housing a clinic run by the Order of Malta. He suggested that the presence of the organization’s flag may have contributed to it being spared so far.

According to Ajaka, the bulldozing operations took place after the ceasefire came into effect. At first, residents did not grasp the scale of what was happening, as they remained in contact with nearby towns such as Rmeish and Ain Ebel, where no strikes or shelling had been reported from Yaroun. This created the impression that the village had not been directly targeted. It later became clear, however, that what had taken place was not bombardment but the widespread bulldozing of homes.

Yaroun is home to about 60 Melkite Catholic families — all of whom fled at the outbreak of the war in 2024. Seventeen families returned during the initial ceasefire period, but many others were unable to do so due to the destruction of their homes. Today, residents remain unable to return, scattered between rented accommodations, monasteries, and relatives’ homes, while some have relocated to nearby Christian villages in the south.

Ajaka noted that assistance to residents has so far been limited, emphasizing that the most urgent need is direct financial support to help cover rent. At the same time, he expressed gratitude for the support provided by the Vatican and for the continued efforts of the apostolic nuncio through regular visits and follow-up on the situation of displaced families.

The historic stone presented to Pope Leo XIV during his visit to Lebanon in December 2025. | Credit: Romy Haber /ACI MENA

He also recalled that during the pope’s visit to Lebanon in December 2025, a historic stone from the village church dating back to 1872, engraved with an image of St. George, was presented to him in the hope of drawing attention to Yaroun and its people.

Today, the fate of this stone remains unknown, as the church has been destroyed and residents are unable to return to see what remains. Ajaka stressed that the destroyed homes of the Catholic families there are over a century old and are purely civilian properties.

Church vandalism across Lebanon

The alleged demolitions in Yaroun come amid recent and varied incidents of church vandalism in Lebanon, with multiple places of worship targeted and their contents deliberately damaged.

Among them, the Church of Mar Shalita in Qobeiyat was stormed and vandalized. And in Ajaltoun, the Church of Our Lady was targeted, with intruders stealing items, destroying furniture, and leaving bullets scattered on the floor.

Taken together, these incidents reflect a broader climate in which Lebanese Christians increasingly feel under pressure, facing different forms of intimidation and attack from multiple actors.by their own government concerning the expansion of education and public healthcare since 1986.

By Romy Haber