PRAY FOR NIGERIA - Catholic Church reports as many as 20 priests hiding from Boko Haram in Nigeria

The Catholic Church is warning the world that 25 villages, all with large Catholic populations, remain under the firm control of Boko Haram, an Islamic militant groups that has aligned itself with the Islamic State.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - The Catholic Church has listed 25 towns that are under the control of Boko Haram, the jihadist organization that is aligned with the Islamic State. Most of the towns and villages are in the Catholic Diocese of Maiduguri.

Sources inside Nigeria also say that terrorists are expanding their control, forcing civilians to flee their homes. The Church also said that as many as 20 priests are believed to be in hiding. Priests and others who are captured by Boko Haram risk summary execution if they refuse to convert to Islam.

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Nigeria is a largely Catholic nation with a recent influx of Muslims in the northwestern portion of the country. The people are peaceful, pious and faithful. Despite their goodness, the terrorists have attacked without mercy. Churches are favorite targets. Car bombs, shooting rampages, and other random acts of violence keep many communities on edge.

The Church has referred to this as a significant humanitarian crisis, however with the world badly distracted in the Middle East Boko Haram has free reign, for now.

That freedom may come to an end at some point. The world is growing weary of militant Islam and less tolerant of its demands. Eventually the Islamic State will be crushed under the weight of an alliance committed to destroying it. Once finished in Iraq and Syria, it is hoped that the world's powers will also help Nigeria which could become the next safe haven for terrorists if the nation is not cleansed of their threat.

Boko Haram also comes well-equipped with modern military equipment including tanks. It will be necessary for world powers, such as the United States, to provide the equipment and training to neutralize the threat.

For Catholics, prayer is the best remedy. Prayer for a solution and a prayer for peace. For the moment, it seems as though war and destruction will continue to rule the day in Nigeria. Our prayer is that the day is short and the coming of peace and justice is swift.

May God and the world, act now to protect the people of Nigeria.

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