Archbishop Adewale Martins of the Lagos Archdiocese has urged political leaders to end the ongoing wave of killings across Nigeria. He made the appeal during Easter celebrations, citing recent attacks in Kwara, Nasarawa, and Plateau States. Over 27 people were killed in Angwan Rukuba, Jos, on Palm Sunday, a day Christians observe as sacred. The Archbishop described the timing of the attack as deeply disheartening. He condemned the government's failure to protect citizens despite repeated assurances and significant security funding. "The government has consistently abdicated its responsibility for securing the lives and properties of Nigerians," he said. He called for an end to political prioritisation over human life, stressing that economic hardship and insecurity are daily burdens for Nigerian families. The Archbishop also criticised the recent spike in petrol and diesel prices, noting Nigeria's status as a major oil producer. "The recent hike in the cost of petroleum and diesel to an all-time high... points to the fact that we have failed in placing our economic priorities right," he said. He urged leaders to adopt sacrificial leadership modelled on Christ's example.
A cleric's Easter sermon has become one of the most direct rebukes of the government's security and economic failures in months. Archbishop Adewale Martins did not mince words: over 27 dead in Jos on Palm Sunday, and the state has "woefully failed" to act. When religious leaders start counting bodies and blaming governance, it signals a collapse of public trust. This is not a call for prayer alone—it's a marker of how far official credibility has fallen.
