Anglican Women Raise Alarm Over Insecurity, Economic Hardship

The Mothers’ Union, Women’s Guild and Girls’ Guild of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Diocese of Abuja, have called on governments at all levels to urgently address rising insecurity, economic hardship, domestic violence and youth unemployment threatening families and communities across the country.

The women also urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to enforce the Electoral Act ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The concerns were contained in a communiqué presented by the President of the Mothers’ Union, Women’s Guild and Girls’ Guild in the Diocese of Abuja, Mrs Angela Eberechukwu Ndukuba, at the 27th Annual Diocesan Women’s Conference held at the Basilica of Grace, Gudu, Abuja.

The conference was held under the theme, “Rooted in Christ: The Hallmark of a Believer,” drawn from Colossians 2:6–7.

On insecurity, the women expressed concern over persistent kidnapping, terrorism, communal conflicts and other threats to lives and property, warning that women, children and other vulnerable groups continued to bear the devastating consequences.

“The Union calls upon Government at all levels to strengthen the protection of lives and property through effective security measures, timely response to threats, intelligence gathering, community-based security initiatives and improved coordination among relevant security agencies,” the communiqué stated.

It also called for accountability for perpetrators and adequate support for victims and displaced persons, while urging churches to intensify prayers and promote peacebuilding and reconciliation.

They also urged eligible Christian women to take their civic responsibilities seriously by ensuring their voter registration documents were in order, studying candidates and issues, and participating peacefully in the electoral process.

The communiqué further encouraged Christian women to develop their leadership capacities and contribute to public discourse while upholding integrity, compassion and accountability.

On the persistent clashes between farmers and herders, the women lamented that violence had displaced families from their ancestral homes, restricted access to farmlands and destroyed livelihoods.

They warned that the crisis was worsening food scarcity and hunger, with affected families forced to seek refuge in internally displaced persons’ camps.

The communiqué called on the government to take decisive action to prevent further escalation, warning against the dangers of reprisal attacks, self-help and a breakdown of law and order.

“The conference, in strong terms, calls on the government to actively address this situation and implement security measures to curb this menace to avoid uncontrollable escalation, resort to self-help, and breakdown of law and order,” it stated.

The women also decried the poor condition of federal highways, which they said exposed motorists and other road users to kidnapping and armed robbery.

They appealed to the minister of Works to ensure proper maintenance of federal roads and equitable distribution of road construction and rehabilitation projects across the country.

While commending the FCT minister, Nyesom Wike, and his team for ongoing road rehabilitation in parts of the Abuja Municipal Area Council, the conference appealed for the rehabilitation of the Idu-Zhidu road leading to Anglican International Academy.