By Smart Emmanuel,
The Kaduna Catholic Archdiocesan Laity Council has raised alarm over the continuous targeting of priests, parishioners and church institutions, saying the crisis reflects a wider continental pattern in which religious communities are increasingly affected by insecurity, violent extremism and weak state protection.
This was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the Council’s Annual General Meeting and Conference held on Saturday, where delegates noted that insecurity in northern Nigeria now mirrors troubling trends seen in parts of the Sahel, Central Africa and East Africa.
According to the Council, the recent kidnapping of a Catholic priest, the killing of his brother, and the abduction of children from a Catholic school underscore the deepening vulnerability of faith-based workers and institutions that provide essential social services across Africa.
The communiqué observed that churches in many African countries remain frontline responders — supporting education, health, social welfare and humanitarian relief — yet are increasingly exposed to targeted violence from criminal networks and armed groups.
Calls for Stronger National and Continental Responses
The Council called on the Nigerian government to demonstrate stronger commitment to security reforms, noting that communities cannot thrive when religious leaders and service providers are left unprotected. It said improved national action would contribute to wider regional stability, as Nigeria remains a key anchor in West Africa.
The communiqué urged African governments, regional blocs and civil society organisations to develop more proactive strategies to safeguard religious institutions, which it described as “critical community assets” serving millions across the continent.
It listed three priority demands:
- Swift and transparent prosecution of perpetrators involved in attacks on priests, parishioners and church facilities.
- Enhanced protection of mission schools, hospitals and rural routes, which often serve as the only access to education and healthcare in underserved areas.
- A comprehensive security doctrine—nationally and regionally—that recognises threats to religious institutions and coordinates responses across borders, especially in regions where armed groups operate transnationally.
Faith Communities Remain Resilient Across the Continent
The Council reaffirmed the determination of the Catholic Church in Nigeria — and across Africa — to continue supporting communities despite growing risks. It noted that churches have historically remained present where state resources are thin, often filling gaps in education, health services and humanitarian outreach.
However, the communiqué warned that without stronger government leadership, continued attacks could weaken critical community structures, undermine social cohesion, and deepen instability in the region.
Signed by Joachim Daudu, PhD, President of the Kaduna Catholic Archdiocesan Laity Council, the statement called on national governments, ECOWAS, the African Union and international partners to strengthen security cooperation and uphold the protection of religious workers who “stand at the heart of community resilience across the continent.”
