The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has accused the Federal Government of failing in its responsibility to protect citizens, warning that continued insecurity and delayed security responses suggest possible complicity in the violence plaguing parts of the country.
The position was contained in a statement titled “Peace in Nigeria: Moving from Fragility to Stability,” jointly signed by CBCN President, Archbishop Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, and Secretary, Bishop Donatus Aihmiosion Ogun.
The bishops said Nigeria is “a nation on the brink,” describing widespread killings, abductions and forced displacement as signs of a collapsing security system.
They cited recent attacks as examples of the worsening crisis, including the abduction of 25 schoolgirls in Kebbi State, 265 students and teachers in Kontagora, Niger State, and the kidnapping of 13 female farmers in Borno State.
In one of their strongest allegations, the bishops referenced “disturbing reports” of delayed or withheld security interventions in predominantly Christian communities in the North and Middle Belt, saying such patterns create an impression of collusion or lack of political will.
“The near-total destruction and occupation of some communities, and continued attacks on displaced persons even in camps, have deepened the people’s sense of abandonment and despair. Such prolonged unbearable conditions have given credence to allegations of genocide in some quarters,” the statement read.
The CBCN, however, stressed that the violence has affected all sides, noting that Muslims and innocent citizens from diverse ethnic groups have also been victims of atrocities.
The bishops called on the government to urgently fulfil its constitutional duty to protect lives and property and to end impunity by prosecuting perpetrators.
“The government has both the responsibility and the means to end this violence and must no longer allow impunity to prevail. Those responsible for these heinous crimes must be identified and brought to justice, for without accountability there can be no lasting peace,” they said.
The statement demanded the immediate rescue of all abducted persons and the safe return of displaced Nigerians to their ancestral homes. It also condemned ongoing violations of Christian rights in some northern states, citing restrictions on church land and the influence of Sharia courts.
The bishops further insisted on justice for Deborah Samuel, the student murdered in Sokoto in 2022, saying impunity in such cases weakens the rule of law.
The CBCN praised Nigerians for their resilience and urged unity in the face of insecurity.
“Every Nigerian is called to be an agent of healing. 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,” they stated.
