The Bishop of Sokoto Catholic Diocese, Matthew Hassan Kukah, has called on President Ahmed Bola Tinubu to bring an end to the suffering and afflictions plaguing Nigerians while delivering his Easter message.
The bishop expressed concern over the culture of brutality and savagery rampant in the country, stating that it had placed Nigeria outside the purview of human civilisation.
According to him, the nation is gradually becoming a huge national morgue, saying no day passes by that Nigerian citizens would not be abducted and or killed by terrorists
He urged the President to take decisive action to address the suffering and restore peace and security to the nation, adding that saying that Nigerians are “hanging on the cross” at the mercy of forces of darkness.
Kukah lamented that Nigeria had been overrun by bandits and kidnappers, who had become embedded in every sphere of life, threatening to destroy the very fabric of Nigerian society.
“We are in a dilemma now, and the question is simple: is the persistence of 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.
He emphasised that Christians must face life’s challenges with confidence, equipped with the light of Christ to drive out the darkness threatening to engulf the country.
The bishop’s Easter message comes as Nigeria continues to grapple with widespread insecurity, including kidnapping, banditry, and terrorism.
Scores of residents have been killed in gruesome attacks on several communities in Plateau and Benue states.
In Benue State, the death toll from the recent attacks by bandits on the Ukum and Logo local government areas of the state was reported to have risen to 56.
Benue Gov Appeals for FG Intervention
On Saturday, Governor Hyacinth Alia appealed to the Federal Government to step up and deal with rising insecurity.
The governor made the call on Saturday when he visited the scenes of attacks by suspected herdsmen in Ukum and Logo local government areas to ascertain the impact of the attacks.
While condemning the killings in Plateau, President Bola Tinubu described the attacks as “the ongoing violence between communities in Plateau State, rooted in misunderstandings between different ethnic and religious groups,” which “must cease”.
He also urged the leadership of the state to address the root cause of this age-long problem.
The President had in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on April 14, said, “I have instructed security agencies to thoroughly investigate this crisis and identify those responsible for orchestrating these violent acts.
“We cannot allow this devastation and the tit-for-tat attacks to continue. Enough is enough.
“Beyond dealing with the criminal elements of these incessant killings, the political leadership in Plateau State, led by Governor Caleb Mutfwang, must address the root cause of this age-long problem.
“These problems have been with us for more than two decades. We can no longer ignore the underlying issues.
“It is time to tackle them fairly and find a lasting solution. I have discussed these problems with the governor over time and offered suggestions for lasting peace.”
