Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria decries rising killings, urges urgent action to stop impunity and restore peace across the nation.
Newsroom (09/02/2026 Gaudium Press ) In a sharply worded statement released on February 7, officials at the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN) condemned the surge of killings and abductions sweeping across the country, warning that unchecked violence and official inaction are eroding the moral and political foundations of Nigeria.
The statement—issued by the CSN’s Secretary General, Fr. Michael Banjo, and the National Director of Social Communications, Fr. Michael Nsikak Umoh—described the current state of the nation as a “relentless wave of killings and abductions” that has turned Nigeria into “a field of grief.” The clerics expressed “profound outrage and sorrow at the ongoing assault on human life and dignity,” lamenting that years of complaints and promises have yielded no tangible security improvements.
“After years of repeated complaints and unfulfilled promises, violence persists unchecked, leaving more communities devastated and citizens weary of empty condolences that do not guarantee their safety,” the statement read.
A Nation Under Siege
Entitled “The Cry of the Innocent: Stop this Slaughterhouse in Nigeria!” the one-page document draws attention to major attacks between late January and early February 2026. The officials questioned how such atrocities could continue “outside of war,” citing the massacre of over 160 civilians in Woro, Kwara State, as well as recent killings and abductions in Agwara and Tungan Gero (Niger State), the devastation of entire farming communities in Katsina and Kaduna, and ongoing violence in Borno.
“This is not instability but a massacre allowed by silence and a betrayal of every Nigerian’s right to live in peace,” the clerics observed. They accused the government of failing in its constitutional duty to safeguard its citizens, stressing that “a government that struggles unsuccessfully to safeguard its people risks diminishing its moral authority to lead.”
Warning Against Silence and Complicity
The CSN statement frames silence from political leaders as a form of complicity. “Every unaddressed attack, every unpunished crime, and every unfulfilled promise deepens the wound of mistrust between the people and those entrusted with their protection,” the officials warned.
They reminded public officials that Nigeria’s Constitution is “a binding covenant with the people,” not an aspirational text. By tolerating impunity, they said, those in power undermine the very foundation of governance. The priests also invoked Nigeria’s obligations under international law, referencing the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, both of which guarantee the right to life as “fundamental and non-negotiable.”
“Yet,” they lamented, “the state continues to treat this right as optional, allowing bloodshed to persist unchecked.”
Call for Urgent Security Reforms
The Catholic Secretariat urged the Federal Government to revise its security strategy immediately. Among its recommendations were the strategic redeployment of security forces to frontlines, the identification and prosecution of terror sponsors and enablers, and the arrest and punishment of perpetrators of violence.
“Impunity is nothing less than a license for further bloodshed,” the statement declared, emphasizing that genuine accountability is essential to halting the cycle of killings.
The CSN also called for comprehensive support for victims, including emergency relief, psychosocial care, compensation, and reconstruction of destroyed communities. Restoring hope, the officials said, is key to rebuilding the moral and social fabric of affected regions.
A Plea for National Unity and Moral Renewal
“Nigeria stands at a crossroads,” the Catholic officials wrote. “We cannot allow mass graves to define our national story.” They urged all leaders—political, religious, and community alike—to rise above division and collaborate for peace and justice.
The statement closed on a note of faith and collective responsibility: “As a people of faith, we entrust our nation to God’s mercy and pray for healing, justice, and reconciliation. May the sacrifice of the innocent not be in vain, but inspire a renewed commitment to protect life and build a Nigeria where peace and justice reign.”
- Raju Hasmukh with files from ACI Africa
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