The Anglican Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Rt. Rev. Prof. Samuel Ike, delivered his 2026 Easter message on Thursday at the Bishop's Court, expressing deep concern over Nigeria's worsening insecurity and economic hardship. He cited Nigeria's position as the fourth most terrorised nation in the Global Terrorism Index, questioning the effectiveness of government security investments. "Where are the much touted digital and drone intelligence and the high cost Tucano jets?" he asked, also querying the status of state police adoption and foreign lobbying efforts. Bishop Ike condemned the ongoing loss of lives to terrorism, banditry, and kidnapping, calling the violence a contradiction of Christ's message of love and sacrifice.
On the economy, he noted petrol now sells between N1,350 and N1,410 per litre, with diesel at about N1,820 per litre. He linked the surge to the Middle East conflict but questioned why Nigeria's refineries remain non-functional despite significant rehabilitation spending. "Where are our functional refineries? What has become of the funds committed to their turnaround?" he asked. He urged national repentance, servant leadership, and unity across ethnic and social lines. The resurrection of Jesus Christ, he said, symbolises victory over suffering and offers hope for national transformation. He called on Nigerians to embrace love, humility, and peace.
Rt. Rev. Prof. Samuel Ike's pointed questions expose a growing disconnect between government promises and tangible outcomes. When a bishop must publicly wonder where multi-million-dollar security assets and refinery investments have vanished, it signals a crisis of confidence beyond the pulpit. Nigerians are no longer just demanding action—they are questioning whether the systems meant to protect and sustain them still function at all.
