At the end of the general audience on September 29, Pope Francis prayed for the victims of terrorist attacks in Nigeria that took place three days earlier, on September 26.
He urged that “security for all citizens” be guaranteed throughout this country.
On September 26, more than 40 people were killed in the village of Madamal in northwestern Nigeria. The Nigerian army said it is an attack orchestrated by an Islamist movement; terrorist groups such as the Islamic State are very present in the region.
This is not the first time that the Pontiff has called for peace in northern Nigeria: last February, he asked for the release of 317 hostages. In January, he prayed after the kidnapping of a bishop.