The President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), Most Reverend Lucius Ugorji, has expressed deep concern over the deteriorating security situation in the country, warning that Nigeria appears to be “under siege.”
In his Easter message delivered in Owerri, the capital of Imo State, Ugorji condemned the alarming rise in kidnappings for ransom and the senseless killings of innocent citizens. He described the situation as both grave and deeply unsettling.
“This year, we celebrate Easter in an atmosphere overshadowed by fear and hopelessness,” he said. “The growing insecurity—marked by rampant kidnappings and the mindless slaughter of innocent people—has cast a dark cloud over our nation.”
Ugorji stressed that safety has become a nationwide concern, with no region spared from the violence.
“We seem to be a nation under siege. Nowhere feels safe—our homes, businesses, roads, and even our places of worship are increasingly under threat,” he lamented.
He also criticized the government’s apparent lack of resolve in addressing the crisis, cautioning that the failure to act decisively is driving citizens to take matters into their own hands in order to protect their lives and livelihoods.
His remarks come amid a disturbing surge in violent attacks across the country, particularly in Benue and Plateau States, where criminal gangs and armed bandits have continued to terrorize communities.
In Benue State, Governor Hyacinth Alia recently confirmed that 55 people were killed in separate attacks in the Logo and Ukum Local Government Areas.
Meanwhile, in Plateau State, Governor Caleb Mutfwang called on residents of Zilkke village in Bassa Local Government Area to remain alert and defend themselves following a wave of deadly assaults. The village was the target of a brutal attack in which over 50 people were killed, many others—including women and children—were injured, and more than 40 homes were burned down by gunmen.