Insecurity: Catholic bishops advocate unified front against terrorists

By Oluseye Ojo

The Catholic Bishops of Ibadan Ecclesiastical Province, comprising Ibadan Archdiocese, Ilorin, Ondo, Oyo, Ekiti and Osogbo Dioceses, have called on the Federal, states, and local governments to present a united front in criminalising and prosecuting banditry, kidnapping, insurgency, and other forms of criminality, as the country strives to strengthen its security architecture.

In a communiqué issued after their first meeting of 2026, held at the Jubilee Conference Centre (JCC)Ibadan, Oyo State, the bishops emphasised that “all life is sacred and nobody has the right to take someone else’s life or seize or destroy somebody else’s property without serious consequences.”

“We support the recent zealous change in approach of the Federal Government to the issue of insecurity in Nigeria, aiming to stem the continuous loss of lives to mindless aggressors and criminals all over the country,” the bishops said.

The bishops urged the government at all levels to sustain the current efforts to tackle insecurity through courageous policies and actions, collaboration with external and internal organizations, adequate funding and equipping of security agencies, and continuous education of the public towards enhanced security.

On tax reforms, the Catholic bishops acknowledged the controversies generated by the new scheme, but urged the government to continue educating the public and addressing anxieties.

“Fairness, transparency, and accountability must govern the conduct of government and tax authorities in this entire process,” they said.

The bishops also commended the recent signing of the agreement between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) after 16 years of failures and disappointments.

They urged the government to extend the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) to private and mission universities, and to closely monitor and implement the agreement to end strikes and stress in Nigerian universities.

The bishops welcomed presidential grants and loans to Nigerian youths for university education, entrepreneurial and skills development, investments, and the new National Policy on Almajiri Education, saying the initiatives would empower and secure the future of Nigerian youths.

“We call on all Nigerians to unite in the effort to reestablish security, peace, and safety of all, regardless of religion, tribe, or status,” the bishops said.