Insecurity Grips Nigeria: Pope Francis Calls for Action and Prayer

The leader of the global Catholic Church, Pope Francis, recently voiced his deep concerns regarding the escalating insecurity in Nigeria, particularly the alarming frequency of kidnappings in the country.

In a statement shared on his official social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Pope Francis pledged to pray for the Nigerian people and expressed his solidarity with them during this challenging time. He conveyed his hope that concerted efforts would be undertaken to address and mitigate the pervasive insecurity plaguing the nation.

“The increasingly frequent kidnappings in Nigeria are extremely concerning,” Pope Francis remarked, highlighting the severity of the situation.

He further stated, “I express my closeness in prayer to the Nigerian people, hoping that efforts will be made to contain the spread of these incidents as much as possible.”

(Source: Pontifex Twitter)

According to reports previously on MandyNews.com, insecurity has crippled Nigeria, severely limiting the freedom of movement for its citizens and posing significant risks to travelers, especially on highways.

For instance, on February 12, GUO Transport Company confirmed an attack on one of its buses traveling from Lagos to Abuja, resulting in the tragic death of one of its drivers. The incident occurred along the Ikare-Akoko Road in Ondo State.

Additionally, MandyNews documented an incident on January 5, 2024, where gunmen hijacked buses belonging to God Is Good Motors and ABC Transport en route to Abuja from Kogi State, subsequently abducting passengers. The exact number of kidnapped individuals remains undisclosed.

The Kogi State Police Command, represented by spokesperson SP William Ovye, verified the occurrence and later announced the release of the abducted passengers, stating, “I have just been informed by the DPO that all the kidnapped victims of God Is Good Motors and ABC have regained their freedom.”