Nigeria’s Catholic bishops have delivered a stark warning to the Holy Father, declaring that no one in the country is safe as escalating violence, terrorism, kidnappings and religious persecution continue to devastate communities across the nation, according to The Catholic Herald reported.
More than 70 Nigerian bishops traveled to the Vatican for their ad limina pilgrimage, the mandatory visit made by diocesan bishops to meet the Holy Father approximately every five years. During the meetings, the bishops went beyond their official written reports to describe the worsening security crisis affecting both the Church and the wider population.
Archbishop Matthew Ndagoso of Kaduna explained that each bishop had submitted a report on the condition of his diocese before arriving in Rome. However, he said the discussions with the Holy Father focused heavily on the realities they face every day, including violent attacks, insurgencies and the immense challenges confronting bishops and priests serving on the front lines of the crisis.
Cardinal John Onaiyekan, Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja, also met the Holy Father and delivered a sobering assessment of the situation, stating that no one in Nigeria is safe today, whether Christian or Muslim. He stressed that the bishops had come to speak on behalf of all Nigerians suffering from insecurity and longing to live in peace regardless of their faith.
Nigeria has experienced religious and extremist violence for decades, but attacks against Christians have intensified significantly during the 21st century. Much of the violence has been linked to Boko Haram, the Islamist militant group founded in 2002, which launched a full scale insurgency in northeastern Nigeria in 2009. Since then, massacres, terrorist attacks and assaults on Christian communities have become increasingly frequent.
According to Open Doors, Nigeria recorded the highest number of Christians killed for their faith in 2024, with approximately 3,100 deaths. The organization also reported that 2,830 Christians were abducted during the same year, highlighting the widespread use of kidnapping as a weapon against vulnerable communities.
Children have repeatedly been among the victims. In November 2025, more than 300 children and staff members were kidnapped from a Catholic school in Niger State. A year earlier, nearly 300 students were abducted in another mass kidnapping in Kaduna State. Previous attacks include the 2021 abductions at Greenfield University and Bethel Baptist High School, as well as the infamous 2014 kidnapping of 276 schoolgirls from Chibok by Boko Haram, many of whom remain missing.
The Nigerian bishops urged prayers and international attention for a nation where insecurity continues to threaten everyday life, warning that restoring peace has become an urgent priority for both the Church and the country
