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By Oscar Okhifo
The Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Niger State, Most Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, has warned that worsening insecurity across the country has made Nigeria unsafe for its citizens, urging immediate action to stem the tide of killings and attacks.
He specifically called on President Bola Tinubu and Niger State Governor Mohammed Umar Bago to act swiftly to address the growing wave of violence, stressing that the situation is deteriorating rapidly and requires urgent intervention.
Yohanna, who is also the Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese, made the remarks on Tuesday during a CAN function in Minna, the Niger State capital, lamenting that, “Nigeria has nosedived into a state of fear and uncertainty following incessant killings, including the killing of military generals.
Nothing can be as despicable as that.”
He questioned the state of safety across the country, saying, “Who is safe and where in Nigeria today? Which part of the country can one boast of safety or security? If Nigerian military generals and senior security officers can be killed just like that, then who cannot be killed?”
Yohanna further decried the impact of insecurity on daily life, noting that, “Nigerians no longer sleep with their eyes closed because of insecurity. There are cases of kidnappings and abductions, killings, destruction of houses, markets, and farmlands, while produce are also burnt and carted away by these terrorists. Very sad.”
He also raised concerns over reports of possible attacks, adding, “Now, whether it is true or not, there are threats of attacks we have seen on social media and even reports within federal government institutions of planned attacks in Abuja, the nation’s seat of power, and some states including Niger.”
The CAN chairman warned of possible internal compromise within government structures, stating that, “It is unfortunate that even within government circles there may be sabotage or infiltration by bad elements,” and urged citizens to remain vigilant and security conscious.
Linking the crisis to broader socio-economic challenges, Yohanna said the situation has been worsened by hardship and governance failures, insisting that authorities must look inward because “there is no smoke without fire.”
While urging authorities to reinforce security across vulnerable areas, the cleric also called on Nigerians to undergo reorientation and embrace positive values, warning that, “Until we change our ways and do the right thing, we will continue to experience decline in almost all spheres of our lives.”
He, however, encouraged Christians to remain steadfast in faith despite the challenges, expressing optimism that, “one day, go