Banditry: Let’s Fight This War Together — Bishop Kukah

• Bishop Kukah urges northern unity to address security challenges, emphasizes collaboration, religious tolerance, and women’s involvement in peace building
• Governor Aliyu highlights community resilience, proactive efforts, and government-stakeholder collaboration to ensure peace and stability

Mathew Kukah, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, has urged northerners to band together to combat the region’s numerous security challenges.

On Tuesday, he made the call during a high-level town hall meeting in Sokoto organised by Global Right and the Kukah Centre with the support of UKaid on promoting peace and security in the Northwest.

“Strengthening Civic Participation And Women’s Inclusion In Peace Building Processes” was the theme of the town hall meeting.

Kukah, who emphasised religious tolerance, stated, “If we can work together, we will accomplish a lot.” We can do some things together. The centre has launched an initiative to invite women of various faiths to come together and do practical things like sweeping the street together because the street is filthy.

But we noticed that there is always this anxiety, every little thing, people will be thinking about whether you will be converted. But it is God that gives religion. Are you faithful and what are you doing to help your society.

Bandits, according to Kukah, do not spare people because of their religion. “Let us, therefore, fight them together,” he urged.

Kukah emphasised the importance of women’s participation in peace-building in our country.

Governor Ahmed Aliyu, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Religious Affairs, Abubakar Torankawa, described the town hall meeting as appropriate, saying, “We gather here amidst challenging times, with the rise of insecurity threatening the peace and stability of our communities.”

It is our collective responsibility to take proactive steps towards finding sustainable solutions because building community resilience is not a task that can be achieved by the government alone. It requires a synchronized effort, involving every stakeholder within our society.

He commended the meeting organisers and assured them that the state government would continue to do everything possible to maintain peace in the state.