The Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN) has condemned the wave of killings and abductions that continue to ravage the nation. Years of complaints and unfulfilled promises have failed to halt the violence, leaving communities devastated and citizens wary of empty condolences that offer no real protection.
In a statement made available to ASHENEWS on Sunday, and jointly signed by CSN Secretary General Very Rev. Fr. Michael Banjo and National Director of Social Communications Very Rev. Fr. Michael Nsikak Umoh, the church expressed “profound outrage and sorrow at the ongoing assault on human life and dignity.”
The recent spate of attacks, particularly from late January into February 2026, has highlighted the scale of the crisis. In Woro, Kwara State alone, over 160 civilians were killed in a single coordinated attack. Similar atrocities have occurred in Agwara and Tungan Gero in Niger State, farming communities in Katsina and Kaduna have been wiped out, and violence continues in Borno State.
CSN insists this is not mere “instability” but mass killings enabled by inaction. The Secretariat reminded Nigerian leaders that the Constitution is a binding covenant, not an abstract ideal. Failure to protect citizens undermines governance and diminishes the moral authority of the state.
“Silence in the face of such horror can hardly escape being labelled complicit,” the statement reads. Every unaddressed attack and unpunished crime deepens mistrust between the people and those charged with their protection. Nigeria cannot normalize bloodshed or treat mass killings as routine tragedies.
As a signatory to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, Nigeria is obliged to safeguard the right to life. Yet, this right continues to be treated as optional.
CSN called on the Federal Government to urgently:
- Redeploy security forces from ceremonial posts to frontline areas where citizens are under siege, seeking assistance wherever safely available.
- Identify, expose, and prosecute sponsors and enablers of terror, regardless of status.
- Arrest and punish every perpetrator of violence, ending the culture of impunity.
- Provide immediate relief, psychosocial care, and compensation to victims, while rebuilding affected communities to restore hope and dignity.
“Nigeria stands at a crossroads. Mass graves must not define our national story,” CSN said. Leaders across political, religious, and community lines must rise above division and work to restore peace. Citizens are urged to reject hatred and violence and stand in solidarity with one another.
The Catholic Secretariat concluded by entrusting Nigeria to God’s mercy, praying for healing, justice, and reconciliation, and calling for renewed commitment to protect life and build a nation where peace and justice prevail.
