The Catholic Bishop of the Sokoto Diocese, Mathew Hassan Kukah , a proponent of justice, fairness and peaceful coexistence, urged northerners to brace up against the raging insecurity that is threatening the communities within the area.
He stated that in line with the adage, “Security is everybody’s business”, the northerners need to gear up against the raging insecurity that is threatening the North.
The Southern Kaduna born cleric who over time has been at the forefront for peaceful coexistence in the region, said northerners should join hands to fight the demon head. This, he said, is the way forward to guarantee confidence in unity between and among communities and the different sects, as a measure to further promote peace in the northwest and the entire northern Nigeria.
The Catholic Bishop made the call while speaking during a high level extraordinary town hall meeting for the promotion of peace and security held at Command Guest House, Sokoto in collaboration with Global Rights and other International support groups.
According to the cleric , the initiative was driven for implementation by the two bodies to deploy strategies for increasing access to justice, promoting peace and democratic processes in the northwest sub-region as well as strengthening civic participation and peace building with emphasis on Kaduna and Sokoto states.
He explained that the project’s drive was being implemented by Global Rights and the Kukah Centre with support from CSSF, Nigeria Stability Programme of the United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office(FCSO).
The religious leader remarked that in the past, the northwest sub-region was being noted and considered for its relative peace and safety for residents but was now a reference point for insecurity in the country.
He said” Today, it is where banditry and terrorism have dwelled with alarming but significant challenge that requires urgent depletion in order to advance the rights and voices of women, children and others”. He pointed out with concern while further noting that instability in the region was threatening to put women’ issues on the back burner and debase the gains achieved on gender development over the years.
Speaking, Governor Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto who remarked that the state was bedevilled by security challenges, said soon the state will overcome the menace. He added that the current security challenges will give way soon, “As we are fast bracing up and doing everything humanly possible to ensure responsive support and working synergy with security agencies in the state is sustained for them to achieve the needed success against all kinds of crimes across the state.
