Bishop Kukah Raises Alarm: Nigeria at Critical Breaking Point Over Insecurity

The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Most Rev. Matthew Hassan Kukah, has raised a fresh alarm over Nigeria's deteriorating security situation, declaring that the nation has "hit rock bottomÔÇØ following years of unchecked violence, kidnappings, and extremist-driven attacks.

Speaking in Abuja at a high-level dialogue on a "Whole-of-Society Approach to Preventing Violence and Conflict in Northern NigeriaÔÇØ organised by the National Peace Committee, The Kukah Centre, and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Bishop Kukah stated that Nigerians no longer need explanation or statistics to understand the gravity of the security collapse.

According to him, insecurity has become so pervasive that "if you have not personally felt it, you certainly know someone who has.ÔÇØ The cleric stressed that the current state of affairs reflects deep structural failures that require sincerity, justice, and courage from both leaders and citizens.

Kukah insisted that a holistic security approach must begin with responsible leadership-one built on humility, transparency, fairness, and a willingness to confront hard truths. He called on political leaders, traditional rulers, and religious institutions to reject silence and actively challenge extremist narratives brewing within communities.

He warned that too many violent incidents are driven by extremist ideologies disguised as communal clashes, banditry, or ordinary crime. According to him, ignoring these realities only deepens national vulnerability.

Bishop Kukah also cautioned Nigerians and policymakers against placing hope solely on weapons as a solution, stressing that "arms provide a false sense of securityÔÇØ and do nothing to address the root causes of conflict.

The respected cleric insisted that peace is a shared responsibility, noting that citizens must demand accountability, while leaders must abandon empty rhetoric and implement real reforms.

He added: "Citizenship is not only about voting; it is also about accountability. When leaders fail us, we must hold them responsible. Peace is a shared investment-you cannot enjoy the returns if you do not make the investment.ÔÇØ