“We’ve more children roaming streets than ever before”: Nigerian Catholic Bishop Laments Youth Neglect, Urges Action

Lafia, 20 October, 2025 / 11:25 AM

Bishop David Ajang of Nigeria’s Lafia Catholic Diocese has voiced concern over the increasing number of street children and the growing violence among them, warning that the situation has become a security risk within his Episcopal See.

Speaking to ACI Africa on the sidelines of the ordination of five Catholic Priests for his Episcopal See, Bishop Ajang criticized the Nigerian government for neglecting the nation’s youth, saying that the rising population of uneducated and idle young people threatens the country’s social cohesion and long-term stability.

“In recent times, there appears to be an escalation of violence in Lafia town. Sometimes we do not ask ourselves how we got here, but the truth is that we have more children roaming the streets than ever before,” the Nigerian Catholic Bishop told ACI Africa on October 18.

He added, “Many of these children are not living with their parents, and the number keeps increasing.”

Bishop Ajang warned that the desperation for survival among abandoned and neglected youths makes them vulnerable to criminal recruitment.

“There is a struggle for survival inside everybody, so whatever it takes for them to survive, they will do. These people can easily be recruited for crime. If the government wants to avert a future problem, something must be done about the young population now,” he said.

The Local Ordinary of Lafia Diocese, since his Episcopal Consecration in June 2021, described the situation as a ticking time bomb, stressing that the growing number of children without access to education or vocational training contributes to insecurity across the country.

“There is a large population of children who are not in school and are not acquiring any skills at all. My plea is that something must be done urgently. An idle mind is the devil’s workshop,” Bishop Ajang said.

He said the government must create structures that ensure children are educated and trained with useful skills.

The Catholic Church leader noted that many parents bring children into the world without the capacity to provide for them, resulting in a generation of idle and frustrated young people who easily fall into crime.

“The first call is for families to be responsible parents. Do not bring into the world children you cannot care for. One of our biggest problems is that people bring children into the world without the means to cater for them,” he said.

Bishop Ajang, who chairs the Social Communications Commission of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) appealed to Priests and church workers to take a more active role in youth formation, saying the Church has a responsibility to guide young people toward positive living.

“I appealed to the Priests to be close to the youth, somehow people think you cannot be a Christian and enjoy life. But by young Priests infiltrating the ranks of the youth, they can show that it is possible to enjoy life and still serve God,” he said.

He encouraged Priests in his Episcopal See to engage with young people at their level, stressing that a relatable pastoral approach would have greater impact than distant preaching.

“When you associate with them as their contemporary, you challenge them by the kind of life you live; they will find you approachable and see you as a model. If Priests do this, their ministry will be more impactful,” Bishop Ajang explained.

The Local Ordinary of Lafia Diocese emphasized that addressing the youth crisis requires a collective effort involving the government, the Church, and families. 

“The government cannot do it alone. The Church and families must play their parts in shaping the lives of young people. Every parent must be committed to their children’s moral and educational development. That is the only way to secure the future,” Bishop Ajang stated.

He described the formation of responsible and well-guided youth as a moral duty that transcends political or religious boundaries.

“The future of our nation depends on the values we instill in our young people today. If we take care of our youth today, we secure our tomorrow. But if we ignore them, we invite disaster. The time to act is now,” he said.