The Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Hassan Kukah, has attributed Nigeria’s deepening insecurity to years of poor leadership, miseducation and moral failure, warning that the country risks collapse unless it confronts the roots of violence and social decay.
In his 2025 Christmas message, “Joy & Hope in a Time of Tribulation,” Bishop Kukah said the criminals ravaging communities across the country are not strangers but products of Nigeria’s broken system, shaped by poverty, ignorance and selfish politics.
“The men and women of violence are our children,” he said, noting that decades of neglect, especially in northern Nigeria, have turned vulnerable youths into instruments of destruction.
He described the region as the epicentre of killings due to high levels of illiteracy, poverty and disease, stressing that education remains the only sustainable path out of the crisis.
Kukah said Christmas should provoke sober reflection rather than mere celebration, as violence continues to threaten innocent lives, particularly children.
He recalled the abduction of schoolchildren in places such as Chibok and Dapchi, warning that the growing exposure of children to kidnapping, abuse and early marriage poses a grave danger to Nigeria’s future.
He criticised what he described as official negligence and complicity in the failure to protect citizens, adding that while Nigerians may lack resources to satisfy elite greed, there is enough to meet the basic needs of the people.
The bishop also cautioned against the temptation to respond to violence with violence, urging Christians to remain faithful to the Gospel’s message of peace.
He said Christianity was born in persecution and has survived worse trials, insisting that faith, prayer and moral courage are stronger than weapons.
According to him, Nigeria’s crisis is not one that can be outsourced or solved by force alone, but requires collective moral renewal and sincere political will.
He called on Nigerians to rediscover shared values that once held communities together, regardless of religion or ethnicity.
Kukah welcomed the reported safe return of abducted children, praising the efforts of the authorities and all who prayed for their release, but described the incident as “one ordeal too many” in a country already traumatised by repeated attacks.
Despite the grim realities, he urged Nigerians not to surrender to despair, saying Christmas remains a symbol of hope, resilience and the promise of renewal.
He challenged citizens to see Christmas as a call to action — to heal wounds, pursue reconciliation and rebuild a nation where peace and justice can prevail.
