Arming communities to defend themselves won’t end insecurity – Kukah

Arming Communities to Defend Themselves Won’t End Insecurity - Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah

In Abuja, during a national dialogue on preventing violence and conflict in Northern Nigeria, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of the Sokoto Diocese delivered a powerful warning against the growing belief that arming communities to confront terrorists and bandits can resolve Nigeria’s worsening insecurity.

Speaking at the event organized by the National Peace Committee, the Kukah Centre, and the Office of the National Security Adviser, he described such measures as offering nothing more than a false sense of security.

Kukah questioned the long-term implications of distributing weapons to civilians, raising concerns about what would happen to those arms once peace is restored. He emphasized that Nigeria’s instability is not simply a matter of firepower but is deeply rooted in broken homes, fragmented communities, and weakened moral foundations. These social fractures, he argued, have created fertile ground for bandits and criminals to thrive.

He insisted that unity across faith, ethnic, and cultural lines is the only sustainable path to resolving the crisis. According to him, the scale and depth of insecurity show that Nigeria has “hit rock bottom,” and the only direction left is upwards. He reminded participants that as a Christian, it is significant that Jesus asked Peter to put back his sword, underscoring that God’s teachings do not change even when circumstances do.

Kukah described the Abuja dialogue as part of a long journey of nation-building, urging participants to act as custodians of conscience and hope. He stressed that Nigeria’s diversity must be turned into an asset rather than a liability, drawing comparisons with the United States, which thrives on diversity. He warned that peace cannot be outsourced or delegated, but must be the collective work of all citizens.

He called on government leaders to act with humility, transparency, and justice, while urging religious and traditional leaders to show courage in confronting extremism within their communities.

For Kukah, peace begins with individuals, families, and communities, and if each person seeks peace where they are, the nation will benefit. He also highlighted the importance of building trust, speaking for the voiceless, and ensuring inclusive representation, particularly for women who make up the majority of Nigeria’s population but often lack a voice in decision-making.

Kukah’s message was clear: weapons cannot solve Nigeria’s insecurity. Instead, truth, courage, justice, compassion, and collective responsibility must form the foundation of efforts to rebuild trust and restore peace across the nation.