The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Most Rev. Matthew Hassan Kukah, has raised alarm over Nigeria’s deepening security and economic crises, warning that the nation is slowly transforming into a “national morgue” due to unrelenting violence and widespread suffering.
Delivering his Easter message on Sunday, April 20, Bishop Kukah painted a grim picture of the country’s current state, describing it as a time marked by “a culture of brutality and savagery never witnessed in the history of our dear country.”
Using the symbolism of the crucifixion, the Bishop likened the experience of many Nigerians to hanging on a cross of pain and hardship.
He called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take urgent action to ease the suffering of the populace.
“Mr. President, we know you did not create this situation, but Nigerians are bleeding and dangling on this cross of mindless suffering,” he said.
Kukah decried the rise in kidnappings, killings, and other violent crimes across the country, noting that no region has been spared.
“A dark pall of death hangs languidly from north to south. Every day, innocent citizens are kidnapped and held under the most inhuman conditions. Nigeria is reaching a breaking point,” he lamented.
He also took aim at the government’s economic policies, particularly the distribution of palliatives, which he argued fails to address the root causes of hardship and poverty. While acknowledging the rationale behind the removal of fuel subsidies, Kukah stressed that true relief can only come from long-term solutions
“Our farmers live in fear, and farming has become one of the most dangerous jobs in Nigeria. Palliatives are not a solution. The government must make food security a constitutional right,” he urged.
Despite the grim reality, Bishop Kukah encouraged Nigerians to remain hopeful and committed to building a better society. “We are the light of the world, a city set on a hill. With collective will and faith, we can overcome the darkness,” he said.
He concluded with a message of peace and hope, wishing the president and all Nigerians a blessed Easter celebration.