Archbishop Emeritus of the Abuja Catholic Archdiocese, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, has declared that the Federal Government is fully aware of those responsible for the ongoing killings across Nigeria, insisting there is no longer any justification for inaction as insecurity worsens nationwide.
In an interview on ARISE News on Saturday, Cardinal Onaiyekan said the scale of violence, abductions, and community attacks reflects a failure of leadership, stressing that officials must act decisively rather than downplay the severity of the crisis.
“Nobody can counteract that Nigerians are being killed. They are being killed. And we believe the government knows who are those killing Nigerians,” he said.
Onaiyekan criticised what he described as the government’s persistent denial of mass killings, warning that millions of Nigerians now live in fear while expecting urgent solutions.
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He argued that authorities must acknowledge the reality of widespread insecurity instead of defending their performance.
According to him, ordinary citizens “should not be traveling on the roads with our hearts in our minds,” and children “should not be picked from schools,” yet these conditions have become normal across multiple states.
The Cardinal urged the government to “name, shame and deal with” all those supporting or financing terrorism in the country, saying impunity has emboldened attackers who “are killing and getting away with it.”
He added that leaders must set aside political distractions, especially debates about the 2027 elections, and focus squarely on national survival. “They ask for our votes. We voted for them… Do the work. Keep us safe,” he said.
Addressing Nigeria’s engagements with foreign partners on security, Onaiyekan said collaboration is acceptable only when the government acknowledges its limits but questioned whether Nigeria’s security agencies are truly incapable of tackling the crisis.
He also dismissed any notion that Nigeria is an Islamic state and called for unity among Christian and Muslim leaders to counter extremist groups. Beyond religious lines, he said both communities suffer attacks and must collectively confront insecurity.
The cleric further criticised the tendency to wait for international pressure before responding to domestic crises, saying Nigeria should not need external voices to recognise its internal failings.
Onaiyekan concluded by urging the government to prioritise the protection of lives above politics. “Christians and Muslims are being killed and that should not happen,” he said. “We should put our heads together as one nation and tackle those who are making our country unlivable.”
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