Nigeria: Archbishop demands government improve security after slaughter of Christians

Archbishop Ndagoso visiting victims of Adama Dutse attack © ACN

Source: Aid to the Church in Need

A Nigerian archbishop has hit out at the country's government for failing to provide adequate protection for its citizens after 11 Christians were massacred. In a statement, Archbishop Matthew Man'Oso Ndagoso of Kaduna accused Nigerian leaders of not supplying security forces with adequate weaponry to protect people from terrorists.

The statement was issued by Archbishop Ndagoso after a visit to Adama Dutse - the village in his archdiocese where five children and six adults were shot dead by unknown gunmen four weeks ago.

In addition to the murders, the terrorists also destroyed 28 homes and a Catholic church in the village in Kaduna State.

The Archbishop thanked the local security forces for responding quickly, despite their lack of weapons, and preventing further loss of life and property.

Criticising the government for failing to live up to its promises, he said: "Nobody has any excuse to leave this country worse than the way he found it.

"You promised Nigerians that you are going to make the country better therefore, do whatever it takes to make it better. It has been said time and time again that if you are there and you can't do it, you know the honourable thing to do, but if you remain there, you have to do whatever it takes to secure our lives and make the country better."

Archbishop Ndagoso highlighted that most food in Nigeria is produced by rural communities like Adama Dutse.

He stressed that, even though in this case villagers decided to remain, in many other communities farms are abandoned after similar attacks, causing food shortages.

Part of Kaduna Archdiocese is located in Nigeria's Middle Belt, which has been shaken by frequent episodes of violence over a number of years, with members of the predominately Muslim Fulani herder community targeting majority Christian farmers.

Successive governments have promised to address the growing problem of land disputes aggravated by religious persecution, but they have all failed to make a meaningful difference, according to local Church leaders.

ACN has provided aid to victims of Islamist violence in Kaduna State and other parts of Nigeria.

With thanks to Filipe d'Avillez

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Aid to the Church in Need: www.acnuk.org