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Laity in Nigeria Alarmed by Heightened Killings, Warn Insecurity Has Reached Alarming Levels

Credit: Nigeria Catholic Network
Charles Muchiri

By Charles Muchiri

Abuja, 19 September, 2025 / 10:42 pm (ACI Africa).

It is highly likely that Nigeria is leading in Christian martyrs globally, members of the Calabar Ecclesiastical Provincial Laity Council have asserted, warning that insecurity in the West African nation has reached alarming levels.

In their welcome address during the opening ceremony of the ongoing Second Plenary Assembly of members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) in the Catholic Diocese of Ikot Ekpene, the laity cited activities of extremist groups in the country, including Boko Haram, the Islamic State for West Africa (ISWA), Fulani herdsmen, and heavily armed bandits as ongoing threats to Christians and the Church.

“Nigeria today could be termed as the world’s leading source of Christian martyrs,” the laity council members said on September 11, adding, “Extremist group like Boko Haram, Islamic State for West Africa (ISWA), Fulani herdsmen, attack Christians and destroy churches. Even the sacred institution of Priesthood is not spared.”

“We are always very sad to hear of Priest kidnappings and killings these days, bandits controlling territories in Nigeria and collecting taxes, cows guided by Fulani herdsmen destroying farm crops without any help from the police when the matter is reported to them,” they said at the event scheduled to end on September 19.

“The inability of government to confront these monsters has made life terrible for the people. This has become a serious concern to men of goodwill,” the council said.

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They expressed concern that Nigeria is “drifting to abyss”, and underlined the urgent need for a comprehensive and collaborative response from the CBCN and other stakeholders to address the spiritual, social and economic needs of the people.

The laity council members highlighted other pressing challenges that the Church and society in Nigeria is facing, including poverty and unemployment.

They further pointed out the growing trend of liturgical abuses in the West African country, as well as the influence of Pentecostal practices, youth disillusionment, and weak coordination among Catholic lay organizations.

About liturgical abuses, they particularly pointed out private ministries that they said are led “wayward Catholics”.

According to the Nigerian laity, some Priests in the country are engaging in practices not aligned with Catholic teachings, such as selling of oil and promoting the ‘Prosperity Gospel’.

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And because of poverty, they said, many lay faithful, youths in particular, are becoming vulnerable to false promises of prosperity from non-Catholic ministries.

“Many young people especially youths are drifting away from the church, attracted to shrines and rituals or simply disinterested in traditional church practices,” the laity council member said in reference to youth disillusionment.

They further said, “Healthcare and education are often underfunded and overstretched, while governance and corruption continue to worsen poverty, insecurity, and other social vices.”

The council members, however, pledged their support to the Bishops in their pastoral mission.

“As representative of the laity, we pledge our support and collaboration in the church’s mission to evangelize, educate and empower our communities,” they said, and implored, “We pray the Holy Spirit to guide and enrich your deliberations and your collective wisdom, and may your resolutions inspire us all to live out our faith with renewed passion and commitment.”

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