(Aid to the Church in Need) — The Diocese of Maroua-Mokolo in the extreme north of Cameroon has suffered sporadic attacks from Boko Haram. Monsignor Bruno Ateba tells Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) about his hope for the future through spiritual and educational formation programs, especially for young people and families. He also explains the importance of translating the Bible into Mafa, a powerful tool to strengthen the faith of a majority Christian tribe.
Since 2013, your Diocese of Maroua-Mokolo, on the border with Nigeria, has suffered attacks from the Islamist group Boko Haram. What is the current situation in the diocese?
The situation has been calmer for a while, but there are always sporadic attacks. In military terms, Boko Haram has shrunk. Before, they all had heavy weapons. Today, that is no longer the case, but they are still bandits who come to steal food, livestock, money, and even clothes. The two parishes which lie directly on the border – Mutskar and Nguetchewe – are especially suffering. There are two attacks per month, because the terrorists are hungry. At night, most of the population along the border doesn’t sleep at home; some people even sleep under trees. Most of the time, the army is there to protect the population, but the partisans of Boko Haram in Cameroon tell Boko Haram in Nigeria when the soldiers are not there. The people are afraid. When I go and visit the parishes, I am accompanied by soldiers. I call them my ‘guardian angels.’
Read more at Aid to the Church in Need…
