The Metropolitan Archbishop of Abuja, Most Revd. Ignatius Kaigama has said that the exploitation of religion for political and economic interests was responsible for heightened insecurity around the Lake Chad region.
He emphasised that religion in itself does not in any way cause insecurity.
Kaigama, who is the President, Regional Episcopal Conference of West Africa (RECOWA), stated this Thursday at the ongoing 8th Ordinary Session of RECOWA.
The Catholic bishop stressed that insecurity was more complex than the notion of an Islamisation agenda that is being bandied in some quarters.
He encouraged the governments of the countries around the Lake Chad region to continue to unite to combat insurgency plaguing the region.
According to JKaigama, “In the Lake Chad region, 268 kidnappings and 1,637 deaths occurred due to terror attacks between January and December 2019. These numbers are unfortunately frightening.
“We don’t always like to see religious causes at the root of these problems. Underneath, there is the exploitation of religion for political and perhaps economic interests.
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“We thank our governments for what they are already doing, but we are not congratulating them because they have not yet won the battle.
“The fight is tough and complex. That is why we urge and encourage them to unite to do better and more.”
Kaigama further explained that electoral violence was contributing to insecurity in the West African sub-region.
“In this year 2020, six countries in West Africa will organise presidential elections: Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Niger and Togo.
“We call on the political class, ruling parties, opposition and civil societies, but especially the ruling parties, to work together to develop electoral codes and fair and transparent structures in order to save our region from violence before, during and after elections,” the cleric stated.
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