The Bishop of the Catholic Diocess of Sokoto, Matthew Kukah, has raised the alarm on the worsening security situation and hardship in the country, calling on President Bola Tinubu to act swiftly and save Nigerians from, what he calls, the “cross of evil”.
Nigerians, have of late, been subjected to rising economic hardship and unrelenting insecurity, typified by killings and kidnappings.
This is even as the former Minister of Defence, Lt. Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (retd.) has urged Nigerians to defend themselves from the menace of insecurity.
Gen Danjuma made this known on Saturday during a public event in Takum Local Government Area of Taraba State.
He added that the advise he gave years ago is as valid today as it was when he made it noting that the government alone cannot win the fight against insecurity.
“Our people must be prepared to defend themselves. Every warning is as valid today as it was when I made it.”
However, delivering his 2025 Easter message titled “Mr President: Please bring us down from this cross,” Kukah painted a grim picture of a nation bleeding from what he described as an unmatched wave of savagery and brutality.
“Every day, innocent citizens are kidnapped and held under the most inhuman conditions. A dark pall of death hangs languidly from north to south… Mr President, Nigeria is reaching a breaking point. The nation is gradually becoming a huge national morgue.” Kukah said.
While acknowledging that Tinubu did not create Nigeria’s current challenges, the cleric said the president must urgently step in to stop the bleeding.
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“Nigerians have been dangling and bleeding on this cross of pain and mindless suffering for too long. A culture of cynicism and self-doubt over our capacity to secure peace for ourselves pervades our land,” the bishop added.
Kukah didn’t only focus on the spate of killings and abductions, he also highlighted the severe economic hardship sweeping across the country. Describing a nation where “hunger and sickness stalk the land,” he warned that palliatives are not a long-term solution.
“Mere palliative distribution diminishes the dignity of citizens. Make food security a fundamental human right to all citizens,” he said.
The bishop also referenced statements by past public officials who admitted to bringing in armed actors to gain political advantage, lamenting that these forces now threaten the foundation of the country.
“The bandits have not only become embedded in every sphere of our lives, but they also threaten to destroy all that holds our communities together. We now hang on the cross at the mercy of these forces of darkness,” the bishop said.
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He questioned the government’s sincerity in tackling insecurity, wondering if the situation persists due to incompetence or worse.
“Is the persistence of the insecurity a statement of the lack of capacity of our men and women in uniform, or is it evidence that those at the top are reaping the fruits of funding their own war machine?” he asked.
Despite the grim realities, the bishop urged Christians not to lose hope, reminding them that Easter is a season of renewal and resurrection.
“We are equipped with the light of Christ to drive out the darkness that threatens to engulf our country. Let us collectively renew our commitment and hope for building a society after the mind of our creator,” Kukah said.
