November 22, (THEWILL) — The Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Most Rev. Alfred Adewale Martins, has warned that Nigeria is “sliding into chaos” amid escalating terrorist attacks and a worrying resurgence of school abductions across the country.
Speaking in a statement signed on Friday by the Director of Social Communications, Very Rev. Fr. Anthony Godonu, the Archbishop condemned the latest assault on Government Girls Comprehensive Senior Secondary School, Maga, in Kebbi State, where armed men abducted 25 schoolgirls and murdered two staff members.
He described the attack as “a heartbreaking indication of Nigeria’s deteriorating security architecture”, lamenting that the abductors stormed the school under the cover of night, scaled the perimeter fence, exchanged gunfire with police officers, and whisked away girls aged between 12 and 17 into the forest.
The Archbishop expressed particular grief over the killing of the school’s Vice Principal and Chief Security Officer, Hassan Yakubu Makuku, who was shot dead in his residence during the attack. One of the abducted girls has since escaped, but 24 remain in captivity.
“It is a matter of great concern that we are witnessing a spike in terrorist activities across the country. It seems there are elements making deliberate efforts to plunge this nation into chaos”, Archbishop Martins said.
He noted that the severity and frequency of recent attacks, including the killing of a serving army general, raise urgent questions about the safety of ordinary Nigerians.
“If terrorists can kill a whole serving army general in such a brazen manner, then how secure is the average citizen?” he asked. “There are genuine reasons for every Nigerian to be worried”, the clergy added.
The Archbishop called on the Federal Government to take swift and decisive action to rescue the remaining Kebbi schoolgirls and restore public confidence in the nation’s security agencies.
“We demand urgent, coordinated action from the government and security operatives to bring these children home safely. Nigeria must not be allowed to descend into lawlessness”, he said.
Archbishop Martins urged stronger intelligence gathering, greater collaboration among security agencies, and a comprehensive national response to halt the rising wave of attacks.
“The government must rise to the occasion. Our nation cannot continue on this dangerous trajectory”, he warned.
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