Catholic Bishops Issue Fresh Demand Following Benue, Niger Attacks

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has called on the Federal Government and security agencies to urgently halt the escalating killings, kidnappings and displacement of Nigerians across the country.

This was just as the bishops said the worsening security situation had reached an “intolerable crest” as citizens were increasingly being attacked in their homes, marketplaces and places of worship.

The demand followed reports of the abduction of more than 60 Muslim worshippers from a mosque in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State and the killing of 47 people in Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State, with 17 others reportedly critically injured.

In a statement titled, “Stop The Slaughter In Borgu And Ukum, Stop The Killings In Nigeria,” the CBCN said the latest incidents underscored the urgent need for authorities to change their approach to tackling insecurity.

Signed by the CBCN President and Archbishop of Kaduna, Matthew Man-Oso Ndagoso, the statement was issued on Thursday.

The bishops expressed solidarity with the victims of the Niger attack, particularly the abducted worshippers and their families, and prayed for their safe release.

They condemned attacks on places of worship, describing such incidents as an assault on the collective humanity of Nigerians regardless of religious affiliation.

“With heavy hearts and deep sorrow, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria once again decries the unabated trail of blood and terror across our nation which has reached an intolerable crest,” the statement said.

The religious leaders urged the Federal Government, state governments, security chiefs and political leaders to intensify efforts to protect citizens, stressing that the responsibility of government would not be fulfilled until Nigerians could live without fear.

They specifically demanded a proactive, intelligence-led security strategy capable of identifying criminal networks and dismantling their operational bases before attacks are launched.

The bishops also called for the swift prosecution of perpetrators and their alleged sponsors, irrespective of their political, social or other affiliations.

“Bring perpetrators and their sponsors, regardless of their status or affiliations, to justice swiftly, as impunity fuels repetition,” they said.

The CBCN maintained that the persistence of violent attacks showed that security agencies could no longer afford to rely primarily on responses after attacks had occurred.

The bishops’ concerns come amid renewed violence in parts of Plateau State, particularly Mangu Local Government Area, where several deadly attacks have been reported in recent weeks.

At least 25 people were killed in an overnight attack in Plateau on August 18, according to Reuters, while local reports put the death toll in the Bin-Per community attack at between 26 and 28.

The violence reportedly resulted in the destruction of homes and farmlands, heightening fears of further attacks and reprisal violence.

On August 24, two security operatives were also reportedly killed and their rifles seized after gunmen attacked communities in Riyom Local Government Area of the state.

Earlier in August, attacks on Berom communities reportedly left two people dead, another injured and several houses burnt.

The Federal Ministry of Information had also reported that 23 people were killed in an August 17 attack on Jwak Maitumbi community in Mangu, with about 45 residential shelters reportedly destroyed.

Against this backdrop, the bishops urged the authorities to treat the continuing bloodshed as an urgent national crisis requiring preventive rather than reactive measures.

“To those in government at all levels, security chiefs, and political leaders, while we commend some efforts being made, we urge that you do not give up on this responsibility until the security and welfare for the citizens are guaranteed,” they said.

The bishops equally appealed to bandits, terrorists, kidnappers and their sponsors to abandon violence, stressing that no cause could justify the taking of innocent lives.

They urged Nigerians not to lose hope in the country despite the worsening security situation, calling for continued prayers for peace and divine intervention.

The CBCN prayed for the families of those killed, the recovery of the wounded and the safe return of the abducted worshippers.