In a statement released November 25, the bishops say violence across Nigeria has reached an alarming scale, but warn of discourse “heating up the nation’s fragile social and religious climate.”
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has issued a stark warning about the country’s deteriorating security landscape, calling the current crisis “deplorable.” They also say “the ongoing discourse heating up the nation’s fragile social and religious climate are truly worrisome.”
Nigeria has been brought to the world’s attention of late, particularly after statements from US President Donald Trump. As well, both Pope Leo and his cardinal secretary of state have recently spoken about the situation there, the latter during the presentation of the global religious freedom report released by Aid to the Church in Need (see article below: “Pope weighs in”).
In the statement released November 25 and signed by the president and the secretary of the bishops’ conference, the bishops say violence across Nigeria has reached an alarming scale. They speak of the perpetrators as “murderous groups.”
They note the crisis is characterized by “persistent violence,” lamenting as well that some security responses have been delayed or withheld, creating the impression of “possible collusion or a lack of will to act.”
Such prolonged unbearable conditions have given credence to allegations of ‘genocide’ in some quarters. Yet, mindful of the sacred dignity and inestimable worth of every human life, we are equally deeply concerned that Muslims and many other innocent citizens of diverse ethnic backgrounds have also been victims of this same cruelty that continues to desecrate our common humanity.
According to 2018 estimates, Nigeria is about 53% Muslim. While Roman Catholics make up only 10.6% of the population, it is still Africa’s 2nd most populous Catholic country with some 35 million Catholic faithful; other Christians make up 35.3% of the population. There are 60 Catholic dioceses/archdioceses in the country and some 94% of self-identified Nigerian Catholics say they attend weekly or daily Mass.
Getting worse
The CBCN points to a string of recent tragedies as evidence of deepening instability across the nation. The bishops’ list goes beyond Catholic or Christian victims, although the recent big group of kidnappings was at a Catholic school. But the bishops listed many cases: the abduction of Pentecostal worshippers in Kwara; the kidnapping of 25 girls in Kebbi; the seizure of 13 female farmers in Borno; the mass abduction of 265 students and teachers in Niger State; and the killing of more than 70 people in Southern Taraba. The murder of Brigadier General Musa Uba and other security personnel, they add, shows how far criminality has penetrated national life.
“When criminals can strike schools, farms, and communities with impunity,” the statement warns, “it threatens the very foundations of family life, education, and social stability. Such attacks violate our shared humanity and endanger the future of our nation.”
Citing the 1999 Constitution — which names security and welfare as the government’s primary responsibilities — the bishops call for decisive action to end impunity, saying the government has the means to fulfill this obligation. They urge authorities to investigate reports of inadequate security responses, bring perpetrators to justice, and secure the immediate release of all abducted persons. Displaced citizens, they insist, must be able to return to their homes safely.
Christian issues
The statement raises concerns about specific violations to Christian minorities in several northern states. Among the issues cited: denial of land for church buildings, destruction of worship sites during years of insurgency, and what the bishops describe as the “overreach” of Sharia Courts. They warn that such practices undermine Nigeria’s secular character and infringe on constitutional rights.
They speak of problems caused by “morality enforcement groups,” naming specifically the Hisbah and saying that these actions
have frequently resulted in harassment and intimidation of innocent citizens, including Christians and Muslims alike, in the exercise of their fundamental freedoms. Their rigid interpretations of religious norms, often influenced by extremist ideologies, undermine communal harmony and threaten national cohesion.
Hisbah is an Islamic religious “police force” or “corps” in Kano state, in the north center of the country. Its authority is theoretically limited, but as the bishops’ note states, the reality on the ground can be different.
Despite the grim realities, the bishops praise Nigerians for their resilience and urge citizens of every background to stand together. Peace, they say, “is the duty of all,” and unity is essential to protecting the vulnerable and rebuilding trust.
Rather than engaging in divisive arguments about who has suffered more losses, we should stand together in defending the sacredness of every human life and protecting the vulnerable. Together, we can transform our diversity into strength and build a nation that truly reflects harmony, justice, and hope.
The statement concludes with a prayer for national healing and peace through the intercession of Our Lady, Queen and Patroness of Nigeria.
Source @Aleteia
