Pathfinders Arewa Project has condemned recent comments made by the Charismatic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) on the security situation in Benue State, warning religious leaders against politicising the ongoing conflict.
Addressing a press conference in Kaduna yesterday, the president of the group, Abdulhamid Abdullahi, condemned a statement attributed to Bishop Leonard Kawas, who alleged an “Islamisation agenda” and called on President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in Benue State.
He criticised the call for a state of emergency in Benue, questioning why similar measures were not demanded in other conflict-prone states with higher casualty figures.
“If a state of emergency was not imposed in Zamfara, Katsina or Borno despite widespread killings and kidnappings, why should Benue be singled out? The call appears politically motivated, aimed at undermining Governor Hyacinth Alia,” he said.
According to Abdullahi, while the group acknowledges the pain and trauma suffered by victims of violence in Benue, framing the crisis solely along religious and ethnic lines undermines efforts to address the root causes.
“The security challenges in Benue are deeply rooted in longstanding land disputes, environmental degradation, and institutional weaknesses in conflict resolution. Portraying it as a religious war only serves to inflame tension and mislead both Nigerian public and international observers,” he said.
He noted that Nigeria remains a constitutionally secular state, cautioning that claims of Islamisation were “unfounded and dangerous.”
“Christians and Muslims alike have been victims of insecurity in Zamfara, Katsina, Borno, and Plateau. The CBCN’s focus on Benue alone raises questions of political bias,” he added.
He urged religious leaders to avoid becoming pawns in political conflicts, emphasising the role of clergy in promoting peace and healing.
