Insecurity: Bishop Backs Plateau Governor, T.Y Danjuma Over Self-defence

Catholic Bishop of Kaduna Archdiocese, Archbishop Mathew Manoso-Ndagoso, on Wednesday threw his weight behind Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang, General T.Y Danjuma, and many others who have been calling for self-defence as banditry invades communities.

Speaking at the opening of the 2025 Pastoral Council/General Assembly of the Kaduna Catholic Archdiocese, Archbishop Mathew Manoso-Ndagoso said “there are a lot of communities under siege and the killing seems to have continued unabated, what will the communities do, should they sit back and watch while the bandits kill, no, they need to help themselves by organising themselves in terms of useful information sharing, consistent patrol in their localities. Governor Mutfwang of Plateau has called for this. General T.Y Danjuma has also reiterated this several times, and I think this is the time for villagers to mobilise and help themselves.”

Ndagoso maintained that “nothing has significantly changed because banditry, insurgency, kidnappings for ransom, very high cost of living, hunger, multi-dimensional poverty are all on the increase. We are still high up on the poverty index. The government’s renewed hope agenda at the centre has not produced the desired result. More and more of our compatriots seem to be joining the league of those living below the poverty line.

“Our country is still among the countries leading the world with the largest concentration of the poorest of the poor, namely, people living below the poverty line. Recent International Monetary Fund IMF) and World reports suggest that many more Nigerians will join the ranks of those living below the poverty line by 2027. We are a people of hope. We will continue to give the government the benefit of the doubt since they repeatedly tell us that there is light at the end of the tunnel.” Ndagoso stressed.

He stated, “Though the insecurity situation persisted, we boldly decided to restart the minor seminary at the beginning of the 2023/24 academic year using the convent in Katari town near the parish house. I am happy to inform you that significant progress has been made. As I speak, we have 106 students in GSS 1, 2 and 3 and SS1. They live in the convent in Katari and attend classes in the seminary. Using the proceeds of the 2024 cathedraticum, we could renovate and reconstruct all the classrooms and the admin block and put together other essential amenities.

The students and staff commute each working day to the seminary for classes. We hope to admit more students to various classes at the beginning of the next academic year. We hope that if the security situation improves, we shall use the proceeds of this year’s cathedraticum to build a hostel block and renovate other essential structures. I am grateful to the priests and faithful of Dogon Kurmi and Gujeni Deaneries for their continued support, without which we could not have started in the first place.”

He commended the creative and proactive leadership of the outgoing leaders of the Laity Council in the archdiocese, saying that through their visionary leadership, much has happened in the Council. Good legacies have been passed on. He said the Council’s report shows a sure and healthy growth with everyday activities.

“Despite the challenges during the year under review, we had a total of 10,343 baptisms, 7,149 first Holy Communions, 2,550 Confirmations and 941 marriages, out of which 756 were between Catholics and 185 between Catholics and non-Catholics.” Archbishop Ndagoso stressed.