The Christian Association of Nigeria has decried the alleged systematic and deliberate attempt by the Muslim-led administrations in the north to edge out Christianity in that part of the country.
The CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, who disclosed this at the opening session of the 2024 First Plenary Assembly of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria in Abuja on Sunday, said the agenda has led to targeted serial attacks, arson and kidnapping of clerics for ransom.
Lamenting the daunting challenges faced by churches in Nigeria from constant attacks on clerics to the struggle for the right to worship places, Okoh said that such has become a daily occurrence.
He said, “As members of the Nigerian Christian community, we acknowledge the multi-faceted challenges faced by our churches on a daily basis.
“From a deliberate attempt to edge out Christianity in certain parts of the country through denial of Right of Occupancy for churches that want to erect their worship places to targeted serial attacks, arson and kidnapping of clergymen for ransom that has now become a daily occurrence."
On the insecurity ravaging the country, the cleric begged President Bola Tinubu to do more to secure the country, noting that without security, hunger and deprivation would only worsen.
"The high level of insecurity, runaway inflation and hunger are areas of serious concern as well,” he said.
The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), however, regretted that the government’s efforts to address the situation are "woefully failing". It called for more proactive measures to protect citizens.
The president of CBCN, Archbishop Lucius Ugorji, who spoke during the plenary, said, “Without security, there can be no development,” pointing out the vital link between employment opportunities for youth and national security.
He lamented the corruption in the system, which he said has remained a pressing concern.
He called for a more effective prosecution of corrupt officials to prevent the continued looting of public coffers.
According to the cleric, the rampant corruption and mismanagement of resources in the country have underscored the plight of Nigerian youth, many of whom are unemployed.
It was noted that such youths resort to drugs, alcohol or emigration in desperation.
The long-term consequences of such a loss of human capital, Ugorji warned would be devastating.
He said, “The situation is worsened by the high unemployment rate in the country. Many of our youths are deeply wounded and degraded by unemployment and poverty, which make them feel rejected by the very society into which they were born.
“Consequently, thousands of them seek relief from drugs and alcohol and eventually end up in violent crimes. In search of greener pastures, many others try to migrate to foreign lands where hard times often await them.
“Regrettably, an extensive brain drain continues in this way in our nation, where manpower is needed to revamp the ailing economy and foster national development. In the midst of the frenzy to Japa abroad for better job opportunities, many young Nigerians fall easy prey to human traffickers, who traffic them abroad for sexual exploitation, cheap labour or organ harvesting.”