To: His Excellency Mr. Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
Your Excellency: It was with a feeling of sincere sympathy that I learnt about the terrorist attacks perpetrated on the campus of Bayero Christian University on 29 April 2012 that left as many as twenty-one people dead and dozens of other people wounded.
It is even more sorrowful because the atrocity was committed during Sunday divine service. The Russian Orthodox Church has repeatedly raised her voice in defence of Christians systematically subjected to aggression in various parts of the world, and in Africa and in the Middle East in particular.
I ask You to convey the words of consolation and support to all people who lost their relatives and near and dear ones. I do hope that the government of Nigeria will do anything possible to prevent such atrocities in future. In these days of celebration of the Resurrection of Christ, I ardently pray to the Conqueror of death, our Lord Jesus Christ, to grant soonest recovery to the wounded and consolation to the mourning.
With deep condolences,
/+ Hilarion/
Metropolitan of Volokolamsk
Chairman
Moscow Patriarchate
Department for External Church Relations