Lagos Clerics Use Good Friday Processions to Issue Passionate Plea for Peace and Value of Human Life

Rev. Fr. Jude Chikezie and Rev. Fr. Anthony Thompson lead Good Friday processions in Lagos, urging kidnappers and killers to value human life and seek reconciliation.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 4, 2026, 11:02 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from NewsDiary Online/NAN

Commemorating the Passion Amid National Insecurity

As Nigeria marks the 2026 Easter period, Christian clerics in Lagos State have utilized traditional Good Friday observances to address the country’s pressing security challenges. Leading a procession through the streets of Ojo, Rev. Fr. Jude Chikezie of the Holy Spirit Church, Onireke, decried the actions of "unpatriotic people" involved in recent strings of violence. He reminded the faithful that the essence of Good Friday—the crucifixion of Jesus Christ at Calvary—serves as a divine mandate to prioritize the sanctity of life over destruction and criminality.

The Call for Reconciliation and National Healing

Rev. Fr. Chikezie emphasized that the death of Christ was a necessary act for the reconciliation of humanity with God, providing a "manual for daily living" that prioritizes care for one's neighbor. In an emotional plea to those responsible for the ongoing insecurity, he urged kidnappers and killers to "value life and quit," noting that no society can thrive when human life is treated as a disposable commodity. The procession, which drew large crowds of residents, was intended to visually represent the suffering of Christ while calling for a modern-day end to civilian hardship.

Spiritual Guidance at Tedi-Muwo

Simultaneously, at the Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Tedi-Muwo, Rev. Fr. Anthony Thompson led members in a separate procession to reinforce the spiritual significance of the Lenten season. Thompson admonished Nigerians to refrain from acts that contradict the teachings of Christ, specifically targeting the lack of compassion and faith in contemporary society. He stressed that the holiday is not merely a historical commemoration but a call to seek forgiveness from both God and fellow men.