Don’t “be instruments of destruction”: Nigerian Catholic Bishop to Youths, Urges Peace, Nation-Building

Yola, 19 August, 2025 / 6:45 PM

Bishop Stephen Dami Mamza of Nigeria’s Catholic Diocese of Yola has called upon young people across the country to resist all forms of manipulation that could turn them into agents of violence.

In an interview with ACI Africa on the sidelines of the Opening Mass of the Pre-National Youth Day 2025, which the Catholic Youth Organization of Nigeria (CYON) Jos Ecclesiastical Province organized, Bishop Mamza lamented the recurring trend of youths being mobilized to fight in political and communal crises and warned that their future is most at risk when they allow themselves to be used for destruction.

“Youths must refuse to be instruments of destruction. Do not make yourself available to be used for killing in your community. Life is sacred, and it is a gift from God. No one has the right to destroy it,” he said during the August 16 interview.

The Nigerian Catholic Bishop decried violent clashes in Nigeria’s Adamawa State and beyond, citing the recent crisis in Lamurde Local Government Area as a painful reminder of how quickly peace can be shattered when young people are lured into fighting.

“Whenever youths engage in violence, it is their own future that suffers most. Instead of being remembered as builders of peace and unity, they are remembered as destroyers. That is not what God wants for them,” he said.

The Nigerian Catholic Bishop, who has been recognized widely for his peace initiatives in the West African nation urged the young generation to learn from the negative effects of violent confrontations and reject any call to violence, no matter the circumstances.

“Our society suffers whenever young people are lured into violence. The path of peace, unity, and dialogue is always better than conflict,” Bishop Mamza said.

He explained that genuine progress and development cannot come from violence. “Conflict only deepens division and leaves communities worse off. Peace and dialogue may take time and patience, but they always bring lasting results,” he emphasized.

He also emphasized the importance of Nigerian youths embracing positive values, such as honesty, hard work, and integrity, noting that “these virtues are necessary not just for spiritual growth but also for building a better society.”

“Our nation is facing many challenges, but we cannot overcome them by fighting and killing each other. What we need are young men and women who can stand for truth, for justice, and peace,” Bishop Mamza told ACI Africa during the August 16 interview.

The Local Ordinary of Yole Diocese since his Episcopal Consecration in April 2011 called upon politicians and community leaders to stop using young people as weapons for selfish goals. Instead, he urged them to provide opportunities that would channel the energy of youths into nation-building.

“Give young people jobs; invest in their education; empower them with skills, and you will see that they have no interest in violence,” Bishop Mamza said.

The 55-year-old Nigerian Catholic Bishop further emphasized the role of youths in fostering lasting peace in Africa’s most populous nation, saying, “Nigerian youths must be models of peace and reconciliation, not only within the Church but also in their wider communities.”

Referring to the Pre-National Youth Day 2025, Bishop Mamza challenged youths to “take the lessons from this gathering to promote their faith in their schools, workplaces, and homes”.

“I would like to advise the youth not to be lazy and selective when it comes to employment. There are many opportunities that they can grab; let them not be idle and be waiting for white collar jobs or government jobs that are not readily available,” he said.

Bishop Mamza went on to encourage young people to “make sure that they believe in themselves, make themselves relevant, and support the Church in their own little way.”