The Catholic Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, urged Nigerians on Saturday to work together to stop the rising killings and to build lasting peace across the country.
Speaking in Abuja, Onaiyekan said the scale of violence shows a failure of leadership and called on the federal government to act.
“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.
The Bishop warned that attacks on schools and towns have left people afraid to travel and live normal lives.
“If the government cannot trace them, shame on them. They should not be called government,” he added, pressing for transparent and decisive action.
Onaiyekan stressed the killings cut across faiths and regions.
“Muslims are also being killed. It is a matter of criminals taking control of our country,” he said, and called for unity across religious and political lines.
“We should put our heads together as one nation and tackle those who are making our country unlivable.”
He urged authorities to name and punish supporters and financiers of violence, and he encouraged citizens to speak up if they have evidence of targeted attacks.
Religious and civic leaders, he said, must press the government to protect lives and restore public confidence.
