The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah, has warned that arming communities to defend themselves will not solve the country’s insecurity situation.
Kukah argued that Nigeria can only overcome its security challenges when every citizen, irrespective of faith, ethnic or cultural background, come together to fight the common enemy.
The clergyman stated this in Abuja on Thursday at a national dialogue on ‘A Whole-of-Society Approach to Prevention of Violence and Conflict in Northern Nigeria.’
The event was jointly organised by the National Peace Committee, the Kukah Centre, and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
Kukah questioned what would happen to the weapons given to the people after peace returns to the country.
He said Nigeria has too many underlying ailments, such as unstable homes, fragmented communities, and weakened moral foundations, noting that these vulnerabilities created fertile ground for bandits and criminals to thrive.
He said, “There is a growing belief that communities can defend themselves by arming up. But arms will not solve our problems. They offer a false sense of security.
“And when peace returns, where will those weapons go? As a Christian, it is not accidental that Jesus asked Peter to put back his sword. God’s teachings do not change; circumstances may change, but the truth does not.”
Kukah said that the scale and depth of the insecurity problem in the country showed that the people have hit rock bottom, and the only direction left was upwards.
“We meet because we believe Nigeria is worth fighting for, not with weapons, but with truth, courage, justice and compassion.
“Our gathering is meant to respond to the cries in our land, not to look for scapegoats or excuses. Nigeria remains a country searching for itself, blessed with extraordinary diversity.
“Our challenge is to turn that diversity into an asset, not a liability. Nation-building is about gathering and harmonising possibilities and skills from across the board,” Bishop Kukah stated.
Kukah said Nigeria should learn from the United States of America, which, he said, thrives today because of its diversity, adding that “If diversity were a liability, America would not be what it is.”
“Let us also acknowledge that peace cannot be outsourced. Peace is the collective work of all of us,” he said.
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