Nigeria’s security challenges have again taken centre stage as the Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Most Rev. Alfred Adewale Martins, issued a stern warning to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, urging him to take urgent and decisive action to stop the country’s “descent into chaos.” The cleric expressed deep worry over the alarming rise in violent attacks, kidnappings, killings, and assaults on places of learning and worship across the nation.
Archbishop Martins said the recent wave of terrorist activities, especially the abduction of schoolchildren, signaled a dangerous deterioration of national security. He condemned the kidnapping of schoolgirls from the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi State, noting that the incident brought back horrifying memories of the 2014 Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction. According to him, such recurring tragedies show that Nigeria is yet to overcome the vulnerabilities that terrorists have exploited for over a decade.
He further referenced the attack on St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Niger State, where students and staff were reportedly seized by armed men. This, he said, highlights the audacity of criminal groups that now target even institutions traditionally regarded as safe spaces. Martins lamented that schools and churches, once sanctuaries for learning and worship, have become frequent targets from which criminals operate with little or no resistance.
The Archbishop also pointed to the abduction of a Catholic priest, Father Bobbo Paschal, in Kaduna State. During that incident, a parishioner identified as Gideon Markus was shot dead while attempting to prevent the kidnapping. Martins described the attack as one in a growing list of violent assaults that demonstrate a troubling pattern of insecurity spreading across many regions of the country.
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Adding to these concerns, Martins condemned the killing of Major General Muhammad Uba, a serving senior army officer, saying the incident further reflected the depth of Nigeria’s security collapse. He said if a top-ranking military officer could be so easily targeted and killed, it raises painful questions about the safety of ordinary Nigerians who lack both protection and firepower.
The Archbishop expressed grave concern that security agencies appear overwhelmed despite repeated assurances to the public that the situation is under control. According to him, the frequency and boldness of these attacks suggest that criminals and terror groups now operate as though the state lacks the capacity or will to confront them. This, he insisted, is unacceptable and must not be allowed to continue.
He urged President Tinubu to take immediate steps to restore public confidence by deploying strong, well-coordinated security operations aimed at neutralizing terrorists, bandits, and other violent groups. He called for advanced intelligence gathering, robust inter-agency collaboration, and clear political will from all levels of government to confront the crisis head-on. Martins added that leaders must demonstrate that they value the lives of the citizens they swore to protect.
The Archbishop also called for a unified national front, saying political leaders across party lines must support the federal government and security agencies without playing politics with national safety. He emphasized that the fight against terrorism and kidnapping requires solidarity, transparency, and consistent follow-through, not rhetoric or half-measures that embolden criminals.
Furthermore, Martins insisted that the government must work tirelessly to secure the safe return of all abducted persons, especially the schoolchildren taken from Kebbi and Niger States. He stressed that the longer the victims remain in captivity, the more Nigeria’s moral and security institutions are called into question. According to him, every minute counts, and no effort or resource should be spared in rescuing them.
Archbishop Martins concluded by urging President Tinubu to act swiftly before the nation’s security situation deteriorates even further. He warned that Nigeria stands at a critical crossroads, and failure to respond decisively could plunge the country into deeper instability. He insisted that restoring order, justice, and security is not only a constitutional duty but a moral responsibility that cannot be delayed.
