Bishop Matthew Kukah, the head of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, has described the North-West region of Nigeria as a “massive crime scene,” citing the alarming rate of violence and insecurity. Speaking at a public forum in Abuja on Monday, March 3, Bishop Kukah highlighted shocking statistics that paint a grim picture of the situation:
Over 4,500 incidents of violent attacks were recorded in the North-West. More than 20,000 people have lost their lives to violence. 76% of abductions in northern Nigeria occurred in the North-West alone.
“The North-West has become a massive crime scene, and we cannot run away from that reality,” Kukah stated.
The cleric emphasized that military action and political interventions alone will not solve the problem of insecurity.
Instead, he called for a collective effort from ordinary Nigerians, urging people to build “a wall of resilience.”
“Something different has to happen. I cannot prescribe what it is, but I think that a collective decision by ordinary men and women, children, and elders in communities can help build a wall of resilience,” he said.
He added that while resilience may not completely stop violent attacks, it would provide inner strength to affected communities and help in their collective survival.
Bishop Kukah also spoke about the importance of women in nation-building, stressing that no civilization can thrive without their involvement.
He criticized harmful cultural practices across Africa, urging society to abandon outdated traditions that oppress women.
“In Africa, there are many horrible and bad cultural practices that have become predominant, which we must abandon,” he stated.
