Matthew Hassan Kukah, Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Sokoto, expressed serious concern about Nigeria’s worsening security crisis, warning that the country has gradually become a huge national morgue due to ongoing violence and constant killings.
Bishop Kukah, who conveyed the Easter message on Sunday, April 20, lamented the deep human suffering, described the current reality as “a culture of cruelty and barbarity that has never been seen in the history of our dear country.”
Kukah used the metaphor of crucifixion, which illustrates the pain Nigerians endured and called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to act urgently to save citizens from what he called “this evil cross.” He acknowledged that the president did not cause the current crisis, but stressed that Nigerians “had been bleeding and hanging in this pain and unconscious pain.”
Bishop Kukah condemned the rising trend of kidnapping, murder and violent crime, stressing that no family or community in the country is not affected by insecurity. He warned: “Death is tilted down from north to south. Every day, innocent citizens are kidnapped and kidnapped under the most inhuman conditions. Nigeria is reaching a breaking point.”
He also criticized the government’s economic policies, especially in response to hardship through palliative distribution, which he said undermined the dignity of citizens. Kukah acknowledged the need to eliminate fuel subsidies and the resulting increase in available resources, but stressed the dangers faced by farmers and noted that agriculture has always been one of the most dangerous occupations in Nigeria. He stressed that palliative medicines were not enough and required sustainable food access and safety.
The Bishop urged President Tinubu to recognize food security as a constitutional right, saying: “Make food security a constitutional right of all citizens.
Despite the grim assessment, Kuka urged Nigerians to remain hopeful, reminding them of their collective obligations to eliminate the darkness surrounding the country. “The structural deformity, sin and corruption of our country must not be an excuse to lose hope. We are the light of the world, a city located on a mountain. With the light of Christ, we can build a society that reflects the will of our creators,” he said.
He ended his Easter message and blessed the country and called for a new faith in the future. “I wish you, Mr. President and all Nigerians a happy Easter,” Kuka said.
