Field tracker · Nigeria · Sub-Saharan Africa

AFRICA/NIGERIA - Christian and Muslim religious leaders concerned about increasing insecurity

Abuja – “As we wake up every day, we hear news of atrocities by Boko Haram, bandits and all sorts of criminals all over the country,” said Archbishop Alfred Adewale Martins of Lagos, Vice President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Nigeria , referring to the ongoing kidnappings, attacks on security forces, and the displacement of entire communities in various regions of Nigeria. During the thanksgiving Mass on June 16 at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Lagos, celebrating the 90th birthday, 60th anniversary of his priesthood, and 55th anniversary of the episcopal consecration of Cardinal Anthony Okogie, Archbishop Emeritus of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, Archbishop Martins appealed to President Bola Tinubu to take decisive action to restore peace and security to the country. “Every day we hear of people being kidnapped by so-called bandits and other criminals. We hear of soldiers being ambushed and killed, including generals; people being displaced from their homes and even traditional rulers fleeing their domains for fear of attack. It is becoming more difficult to understand what is going on in our country.” The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, president of Jama’atu Nasril Islam , one of the country’s most important Islamic organizations, also addressed the insecurity plaguing large parts of Nigeria. In a statement also released on June 16, the Sultan called on the faithful to offer fervent prayers for the well-being of Nigeria and the consolidation of peace and security, emphasizing that the new wave of violence and insecurity seems to be resisting all measures taken so far. The Sultan specifically requested that the Friday prayer on June 19 be dedicated to special supplications to address social ills in Nigeria, including the increasing problem of kidnappings and banditry.

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