“Delayed Security Response Gives Impression of Collusion,” Nigerian Catholic Bishops Say

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria has raised alarm over what it describes as troubling delays in security responses to attacks on several predominantly Christian communities across the country.

In a statement released Tuesday, the bishops said they have received accounts suggesting that timely assistance was either postponed or withheld in some of the affected areas. They noted that repeated assaults, particularly in the northern and middle belt regions, have led to significant loss of life and the destruction of entire settlements.

According to the conference, these conditions have reinforced claims in some quarters that Christians are facing a targeted campaign of violence. They added that displaced people continue to face threats even in camps, worsening feelings of abandonment among survivors.

The bishops emphasized that the violence has harmed Nigerians of many backgrounds, pointing out that Muslims and other ethnic groups have also suffered under the same wave of brutality.

They called on the federal government to launch a thorough investigation into the reported gaps in security response and to restore public confidence. The conference also urged authorities to ensure that those behind recent kidnappings in Kebbi, Kwara, Borno, and Niger states are brought to justice.