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Kaigama: Insecurity Has Developed Branches In Nigeria, Spreading Like Monster
Says Nigeria A Wounded, Bleeding Nation In Need of Healing
Says God Weeping For Nigeria Because Of Corruption, Banditry, Terrorism, Bloodshed
The Catholic Archbishop of Abuja Diocese, Most Rev Ignatius Kaigama, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to deal decisively with insecurity in Nigeria, which, he said, has developed branches and spreading like a monster across the country.
Describing Nigeria as “a wounded and bleeding nation in need of healing”, he said all security operatives must restrategize in their approach to end the widespread insecurity in the country, while resources allocated to fight crimes in the country must be used honestly and transparently.
Kaigama stated these in an interview with journalists on the sidelines of a Chrism Mass held Our Lady Queen of Nigeria Pro-Cathedral in Abuja.
“The Chrism Mass gathers us priests as one presbyterate, one family of faith, around the Bishop, to bless the oils of the sick, the catechumens, and sacred Chrism, and for each priest to renew his priestly commitment as “alter Christus” – another Christ”, the cleric explained.
Kaigama said, “When the Catholic Bishop went to see him (President Bola Tinubu). We had to appeal to the President that they must rise to the occasion, and things are well.
“There was a time when it was only Boko Haram; another time it was militant herdsmen. Now, insecurity has diversified. Criminality has developed branches. It is a monster, spreading in all directions. There is a need for restrategizing. Whatsoever the security agencies are doing has worked to an extent, but there is no solution yet.
“There should be an inter-agency corporation. There should be no competition. All the security forces should go all out for criminals. These people are not ghosts.
“I am hoping that a new step will be taken. We insist that good work must be done. The resources voted for security must be used honestly and transparently.”
Earlier while delivering his message, Kaigama said not only are priests in need of healing, but the citizens and Nigeria need it too.
He said, “Our nation needs healing from the festering wounds inflicted by politics, and harsh economic realities that do not only result in crimes and violence but subsequently, to unsound minds of our dear young people. We continue to witness criminality that robs people of their lives which should be sacred.
“The brutal killings in Ondo, Uromi, Bokkos, and Borno; the several killings in Southern Kaduna including the cruel murder of a priest of Kafanchan diocese; the killings of some 16 soldiers recently, and many untold killings show a wounded and bleeding nation in need of healing.
“One can only imagine how many families are left devastated, traumatized, and broken severely. By now, one would think that with the combination of modern technology and non-kinetic methods, criminality would have been greatly reduced in Nigeria. The recurring violence in different parts of the nation is a sign of a nation in need of healing. How criminals known as “unknown gunmen,” kidnappers, terrorists, militant herdsmen, etc., are nearly never always apprehended and decisively dealt with is puzzling.
“They appear, kill, burn houses, and farms, injure people, and disappear, and only later to stage a comeback inflicting more damage than previously, costing innumerable loss of human lives. It appears that we have yet to get the right technology to hunt these criminals down, or is it the absence of goodwill or political will?
“We are not only spiritually sick but also economically, politically, and socially. We need individual and collective healing. Luke 19:41 tells us that as Jesus nears the city of Jerusalem, He pauses and weeps. His tears are not for Himself, but for Jerusalem, for those who will reject Him, for the destruction that will come upon them because they did not recognize the time of God’s visitation.
“What makes God weep for Nigeria? Corruption, banditry, terrorism, bloodshed, etc. Despite the strong presence and the external practice of Christianity and Islam, many, reject the truth of God’s word and choose to conceal it and not bear witness to it; we put people who speak the truth down; we refuse to be instruments of God’s love and mercy to others; we choose to live in sin rather than God’s grace and mercy. We place others on the cross by our hatred and rejection of them.”
The Senior Pastor and founder of Zion Flames Prophetic and Intercessory Ministries (ZFPIM),Apostle Promise Momo, has called on Nigerians to shun ethnic bigotry and embrace love and unity to move the nation forward.
In an Easter message personally signed and shared with journalists in Lagos, Apostle Momo emphasized the need for Nigerians to see one another as brothers and sisters, regardless of ethnic differences.
“We must look for ways to unify the nation in love, because united we stand and divided we fall,” he said.
The cleric condemned acts of hatred, violence, and exploitation, stating, “It is not the will of God to see people killing each other or hating one another, cheating one another, taking advantage of people, or preying on the weak.”
He urged Nigerians to build a society grounded in love and unity, warning that progress would remain elusive without these values.
Reflecting on the significance of Easter, Apostle Momo described the holiday as a cornerstone of Christian faith.
“Easter Sunday, or Resurrection Sunday, is one of the most significant Christian holidays on the calendar,” he said.
“The day commemorates the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, who resurrected after three days in the tomb.”
Quoting John 3:16, he added, “Jesus Christ is love personified… I want to see love come back to life amongst we Nigerians.”
The pastor’s message comes at a time when Nigeria continues to grapple with ethnic tensions and social divisions, underscoring the urgency of his call for unity.
Says Leadership Not Contest Of Noise
Says Nigerian Leaders Should Prioritize Governance over Politics
The Catholic Archbishop of Abuja Diocese, Most Rev Ignatius Kaigama has called on the Federal Government to address the challenges of insecurity, revive the economy, and restore the dignity of human lives because Nigeria is bleeding, people are hungry, unsafe and disillusioned.
According to him, as a people, the citizens must rise above despair, division, and violence and commit themselves to peace, justice, and truth.
“Our country is bleeding – our people are hungry, unsafe, and disillusioned. It is therefore imperative that politicians in government focus more on addressing the real challenges before us: ending insecurity, reviving the economy, and restoring the dignity of Nigerian lives”, he said
While describing the political tensions and institutional breakdown that led to the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State as “deeply troubling”, the cleric said that although government intervention in moments of crisis is sometimes necessary to restore order and protect democratic institutions, the government must be cautious in its reactions and avoid actions that could further polarize an already tense environment.
Kaigama said these in his Easter Message titled, “The Light Shines in the Darkness, and the Darkness Cannot Overcome It”, taken from John 1:5 and sent to Arise News in Abuja.
He said Easter is not just a Christian ritual—but a powerful reminder that light always follows darkness, and life prevails over death.
Kaigama said, “Yet, even as we celebrate, our hearts are heavy with grief and concern over the senseless bloodshed and insecurity that continue to plague our land.
We mourn the tragic and reckless killing of innocent travellers in Uromi, Edo State—lives cut short without reason or mercy.
“We grieve the repeated violence and massacres in Bokkos and Bassa Local Government Areas of Plateau State, where entire communities are being decimated. These attacks have left families shattered and dreams destroyed, and they underscore the urgent need for a sincere and coordinated response to insecurity across Nigeria.
We are also alarmed by the continual hunger and economic hardship gripping our people. Families struggle daily to put food on the table, and children go to bed hungry in a nation so richly blessed.
“The desperation in the land is palpable, and it calls for immediate action from all levels of government, faith-based institutions, and citizens. As Jesus fed the multitudes with compassion, so must we work together to ensure that no Nigerian goes hungry in the midst of plenty.
“Equally distressing is the increasing trend of kidnapping and targeted attacks on clergy, especially priests who dedicate their lives to serving others. These brutal acts not only rob families of their loved ones but also strike at the heart of our moral and spiritual fabric. Every priest kidnapped or murdered is a blow to the conscience of our nation.
“In addition, the recent political tensions and institutional breakdown that led to the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State are deeply troubling. While government intervention in moments of crisis is sometimes necessary to restore order and protect democratic institutions, we must be cautious in our reactions and avoid actions that could further polarize an already tense environment.
“Let this moment serve as a call to all stakeholders – political leaders, traditional authorities, civil society, and citizens – to embrace dialogue over division. No democracy can thrive without the culture of give and take, live and let live.
Power, like life, is transient. Therefore, we must strive to build bridges and not burn them, to prioritize the welfare of the people over personal or party interests. Let us resist the temptation of inflammatory rhetoric and embrace peace, understanding, and mutual respect as the pathway to lasting stability.
“We must also be deeply concerned about the rising tide of acrimonious political rhetoric that is spreading across the nation. Words are powerful, and when used carelessly, they can inflame tensions and deepen our divisions. This is not yet the time for political campaigns or endless jostling for power.
Let us demand accountability and protection for every Nigerian, regardless of tribe, faith, or region.
He said since leadership is a sacred responsibility, not a contest of noise, Nigerian leaders should “prioritize governance over politics, solutions over slogans, and unity over personal ambition. Nigeria needs healing, not hostility.”
Kaigama said that in the face of the darkness that seems to surround Nigeria and envelop her lands, “we must not lose hope” as Easter teaches that even the tomb cannot hold back the power of resurrection.
“As a people, we must rise above despair, division, and violence. Let us commit ourselves to peace, justice, and truth. Let us demand accountability and protection for every Nigerian, regardless of tribe, faith, or region.
“This Easter, may the risen Christ ignite in us the courage to speak up against evil, the strength to support one another, and the wisdom to build a Nigeria where dignity and life are sacred once again. Let our celebration not just be of Christ’s resurrection, but of the renewal of our national spirit. May God bless Nigeria, and may peace reign in our hearts and across our land”, the cleric emphasized.
ENDS***
Zion Flames Prophetic and Intercessory Ministries, a Nigerian church, has extended its charitable outreach to Uganda, donating food items, diapers, and clothes to an orphanage in Kampala during Good Friday.
The gesture, aimed at sharing love with vulnerable children, underscores the church’s ongoing commitment to supporting disadvantaged communities across Africa.
Glory Momo, the church’s Director of Protocol and Communication Strategy, presented the items to the orphanage, emphasising the ministry’s five-year legacy of philanthropy.
“Our ministry has been known for charity work across Africa,” Momo said during the event.
In a statement issued to journalists on Sunday, he added, “We have reached out to less privileged communities, refugee communities, and provided scholarships to students in Nigeria and across Africa.”
The church’s mission, according to Momo, is divinely inspired.
“This is what God has called us to do as a church, and we will not relent. What you see us do here in Uganda is simply sharing love with those who need it most—children who have been abandoned.
“We will continue, as the Lord enables us, to show love across the continent and the world.”
This is not the first time Zion Flames Ministries International has supported vulnerable groups.
The church has a history of aiding disadvantaged communities in Nigeria, including hosting celebrations with orphans during the Christmas season.
The donation comes as part of the church’s broader efforts to uplift marginalised groups, with its leadership pledging to sustain such initiatives in Uganda and beyond.