Pope prays for Nigeria after terror attack on farmworkers

By Devin Watkins

"I want to assure my prayers for Nigeria, where blood has unfortunately been spilled once more in a terrorist attack."

Pope Francis gave that assurance in remarks at the end of the Wednesday General Audience.

He was referring to a massacre which took place on Saturday in the village of Zabarmari, in Borno State.

The Pope lamented the death of over 100 farmworkers, many of whom witnesses say were beheaded while in the fields.

“May God welcome them in His peace and comfort their families, and convert the hearts of those who commit similar atrocities which gravely offend His name,” the Pope prayed.

Insurgent violence

No one has claimed responsibility for the attack, but suspicions fell either on Boko Haram or a branch of the so-called Islamic State.

The Islamic insurgents have been responsible for at least 30,000 deaths over the past several years.

The United Nations and Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari condemned Saturday’s killings, which mark the most violent attack on civilians in Nigeria this year.