The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has called on the Federal Government and security agencies to intensify efforts to combat terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other forms of violent crime threatening communities across the country.
The Bishops made the call while condemning recent attacks in Niger and Benue states, including the abduction of Muslim worshippers during Jumu’at prayers at a mosque in Borgu, Niger State.
President of the CBCN, Most Rev. Matthew Ndagoso, expressed deep concern over the increasing attacks on innocent Nigerians, particularly the incident in which worshippers were reportedly abducted while gathered for prayers.
The Catholic leadership demanded the immediate and safe rescue of all those taken from the mosque, stressing that places of worship should be sanctuaries where citizens can freely practise their faith without fear of attack.
The Bishops also expressed solidarity with the Muslim community in Niger State and commiserated with families affected by the latest wave of violence.
Their intervention followed another deadly attack in Ukum, Benue State, where 47 people were reportedly killed and 17 others critically injured.
The CBCN described the scale and frequency of such attacks as deeply disturbing, warning that the continued loss of lives and abduction of citizens could further erode public confidence in the country’s security architecture.
According to the Bishops, security agencies must move beyond responding to attacks after they occur and place greater emphasis on intelligence gathering, early warning mechanisms and preventive operations.
They urged security authorities to identify and dismantle criminal camps, hideouts and operational networks before the groups have the opportunity to attack vulnerable communities.
The Bishops maintained that intelligence-led operations would be critical to addressing the growing threats posed by terrorists, bandits and kidnappers operating in different parts of the country.
They also called for the prosecution of those responsible for attacks, as well as individuals and networks sponsoring or financing violent groups.
The CBCN argued that accountability was essential to ending the cycle of violence, noting that criminals should not be allowed to operate with the confidence that they would escape justice.
The Catholic leaders further warned against viewing insecurity through ethnic, political or religious lenses.
They insisted that the value of a human life should not be determined by the victim’s religion, ethnicity, political affiliation or geographical location.
The Bishops said the abduction of Muslim worshippers during prayers deserved the same level of concern and urgency as attacks against Christians or members of any other religious community.
They therefore called on Nigerians to reject narratives capable of deepening religious and ethnic divisions at a time when the country is already facing serious security challenges.
According to the CBCN, attacks on places of worship, markets, villages, schools and other civilian locations constitute attacks on the wider Nigerian society and should be treated as such.
The Bishops stressed that no political, ethnic or religious grievance could justify the killing or abduction of innocent citizens.
They urged Nigerians to remain united in confronting violence, warning that division among citizens could further strengthen criminal elements seeking to exploit social and religious differences.
The Catholic Bishops acknowledged that the Federal Government had introduced measures aimed at tackling insecurity but said the persistence of deadly attacks demonstrated that considerably more action was required.
They called on political leaders, security chiefs and other relevant authorities to strengthen coordination and ensure that security personnel have the intelligence, equipment and operational capacity required to protect communities.
The CBCN also appealed to communities to remain vigilant and cooperate with security agencies by providing credible information about suspicious movements and criminal activities.
At the same time, the Bishops directed a message to bandits, kidnappers and other criminal groups, urging them to abandon violence and embrace peace.
They warned that the continued targeting of innocent citizens would only deepen the country’s humanitarian and security crisis while inflicting lasting trauma on affected families and communities.
The Bishops prayed for the safe release of the abducted Muslim worshippers in Niger State and called on the authorities to make their rescue an immediate priority.
They also offered condolences to families who lost loved ones in the Benue attacks and prayed for the recovery of those critically injured.
The Catholic leadership reiterated that the fundamental responsibility of government is the protection of lives and property, insisting that every Nigerian deserves security regardless of faith, ethnicity, political affiliation or location.
The CBCN therefore urged the Federal Government to make the protection of citizens a central priority of its security strategy and to sustain efforts aimed at restoring peace and confidence across communities affected by terrorism, banditry and kidnapping.
The Bishops maintained that defeating insecurity would require not only military and policing operations but also stronger intelligence systems, effective prosecution, community cooperation and a united national response.
They called on Nigerians of all faiths to stand together against violence and reject attempts by criminal elements to turn insecurity into a source of religious or ethnic division.
For the CBCN, the recent attacks serve as another reminder that the country’s security challenges require urgent, coordinated and sustained action to prevent further loss of innocent lives.
