By Fr. Michael Nsikak Umoh
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has issued a strongly worded statement warning that Nigeria is sliding deeper into insecurity and fragility, urging government authorities to act decisively to restore peace and stability.
In a press release titled “Peace in Nigeria: Moving from Fragility to Stability”, the Bishops lamented that “the deplorable security situation in our nation Nigeria and the ongoing discourse heating up the nation’s fragile social and religious climate are truly worrisome.”
The prelates condemned the persistent violence that has “claimed countless lives, destroyed homes, and displaced families,” stressing that “as murderous groups continue to unleash terror on defenseless citizens, we strongly condemn these atrocities that have brought untold anguish to many communities.”
The bishops cited recent tragedies as evidence of the worsening crisis: “Cases of abduction of several worshippers in Kwara State (who, thankfully, have been released), twenty-five young girls in Kebbi State, thirteen female farmers in Borno State, two hundred and sixty-five students and their teachers in Papiri, Niger State, brutal killing of more than seventy persons in Southern Taraba and the displacement of thousands there, attest to the troubling scale of the security crisis.”
They warned that such attacks “threaten the very foundations of family life, education, and social stability” and declared that “when criminals can strike schools, farms, and communities with impunity, it violates our shared humanity and endangers the future of our nation.”
The CBCN reminded the government of its constitutional duty under Section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution, stating: “We call on the Government at all levels to urgently and decisively fulfil its foremost duty… to protect the lives and property of all citizens.”
They insisted that “the Government has both the responsibility and the means to end this violence and must no longer allow impunity to prevail.” The bishops demanded that “reports of delayed or withheld security responses in some affected communities be thoroughly investigated in order to rebuild public trust.”
They also urged authorities to secure the release of abducted persons, stressing: “The Government must… take all lawful and urgent measures to secure the immediate and safe return of all abducted persons, including the young girls taken in Kebbi, the pupils and teachers seized in Kontagora, and the young females abducted in Borno.”
Going further, the revered body drew attention to what they described as persistent violations of Christian minority rights in northern states. “The denial of land for the construction of churches, particularly within federal institutions, and the destruction of Christian places of worship… are matters that demand urgent and decisive government action.”
They expressed concern over the “overreach of Sharia Courts in some states,” warning that it “poses serious constitutional concerns, as it threatens Nigeria’s secular character and infringes on the rights of Christian minorities.” Similarly, the bishops also criticized morality enforcement groups such as Hisbah, noting that “their rigid interpretations of religious norms, often influenced by extremist ideologies, undermine communal harmony and threaten national cohesion.”
Recalling the killing of Deborah Samuel Yakubu in Sokoto, the bishops declared: “We once again demand justice for her, as impunity in such cases undermines the rule of law and endangers the rights of all citizens.”
Despite the grim realities, the religious leaders praised the resilience of Nigerians: “We salute the courage of the Nigerian people who, despite these trying times, continue to demonstrate remarkable resilience and trust in the promise of a better future.”
They urged citizens to reject division and hatred: “Every Nigerian is called to be an agent of healing, to reject hatred and retaliation, to speak words that foster understanding, and to uphold justice, dialogue, and mutual respect.”
The statement, Archbishop Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, President of CBCN, and Bishop Donatus Ogun, Secretary, emphasised that “peace is not the responsibility of a select few. It is the duty of all.”
The bishops concluded with a prayer: “May God, through the intercession of Our Lady, Queen and Patroness of Nigeria, grant our nation and its people peace, healing and restoration. Amen.”
