The Ladies of St. Mulumba Owerri Metropolitan Province joined their counterparts in other provinces to protest the abduction and continued detention of the over 270 Nigerian girls kidnapped from their school in Chibok, Borno State on April 14, 2014 by Islamist terrorists, Boko Haram.The Ladies of St. Mulumba during their protest in Owerri, Saturday May 10.
The Ladies numbering over 500 marched from the Holy Ghost College Owerri, through Assumpta Avenue to the Maria Assumpta Cathedral where they lodged their grievances with the Most Rev. Anthony Obinna, Catholic Archbishop of Owerri and Metropolitan of Owerri Ecclesiastical Province.
The Ladies drawn from the six dioceses of the province namely Owerri, Umuahia, Orlu, Okigwe, Ahiara and Aba diocese were praying the Rosary, pleading with Our Lady, the Blessed Virgin Mary to intercede for the kidnapped girls and the country.
They displayed various placards depicting their grievances as they march, pray and sing along the roads under the watchful eyes of security operatives. Some of the placards read: “Mothers are traumatized”, “Release our girls unconditionally”, “The girls are future leaders”, “Enough is enough”, “Bring back our girls”, “Respect sanctity of life” etc.
Before embarking on the prayerful rally, the LSM Metro President, Lady Chinedu Brown led the Ladies in a prayer session in which they called on God to scatter Boko Haram, expose their sponsors in Nigeria and overseas and let them not sleep until they surrender the innocent girls.
At the Cathedral where the Ladies presented their grievances with the Most Rev. Anthony Obinna, they raised a number of questions such as “Where were the security operatives when the convoy of vehicles stormed the girls’ college”? Where were the army and police when the Boko Haram convoy left the college with over 300 young girls”?
Lady Chinedu Brown who articulated the grievances of the Ladies in the address to the Archbishop observed that Nigeria’s borders are porous and unguarded, thus making all sorts of illegal immigrants come into the country with ease.
She described what is happening in Nigeria today as an outward sign of inward decadence and appealed for a change of heart.
Responding, Archbishop Obinna said the Church as a Mother is also worried about the development and is praying to God to touch the hearts of those who also claim to be Religious, even though.by their fruit, we know them.
He described the abduction as a serious act against children, noting that one can imagine their trauma. He commended the women for their sacrifice, having come from various parts of Imo, Abia and parts of Anambra and Rivers States which constitute Owerri Ecclesiastical Province.
He reminded Governors that they are the chief security officers of their various states and should ensure that the people and property in their states are safe and secured.
Also to ensure the safety of the girls, Archbishop Obinna said the President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria had directed that all Catholic parishes in the country hold an Hour of Adoration, to be preceded by Rosary and Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Speaking with THE LEADER, Lady Bernadine Asagwara, Chairlady LSM Activity Committee, which organized the prayerful rally said their protest will not end with the placards and advised Ladies to continue the recitation of the Rosary in their homes until the girls are released.
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