The Catholic Archbishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah, says the wave of insecurity in Nigeria indicates that the country is at a critical point.
Bishop Kukah stated this in Abuja at a dialogue on a ‘Whole-of-society approach to preventing violence and conflict in Northern Nigeria’, organised by the National Peace Committee, The Kukah Centre, and the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA.
He said, “Insecurity in Nigeria shows that the country has hit the rock bottom. No Nigerian needs an explanation about insecurity. If you haven’t personally felt it, you certainly know someone who has.”
The cleric noted that a whole-of-society approach requires government leadership guided by humility, transparency, and justice, while religious and traditional leaders should exercise courage in addressing extremism within their communities.
“We must feel free to raise our voices. Citizenship is not only about voting; it is also about accountability. When leaders fail us, we must hold them responsible,” he said.
According to him, some attacks in the country are driven by extremist ideologies, even if they are sometimes disguised as communal disputes or criminal acts, stressing that lasting peace requires shared responsibility across society.
The Catholic Bishop therefore warned against relying on arms as a solution, stating that weapons provide a false sense of security and do not address the root causes of conflict.
“Peace is a shared investment. You cannot enjoy the returns if you do not make the investment,” he added.