The Charismatic Bishops Conference of Nigeria has charged President Bola Tinubu to urgently intervene in the worsening security crisis in Benue and Plateau States which they described as “a de facto state of emergency.”
The secretary-general of the conference and chairman of the 2025 synod planning committee, Archbishop Chivir Chianson, who led a delegation of bishops on a courtesy visit to the special adviser to the president on policy and communications, Daniel Bwala, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja yesterday, commended the president for his bold economic and policy reforms but expressed deep concern over the deteriorating security situation in the Middle Belt, citing recurring attacks on missionaries, villagers and places of worship.
He said; “Our churches are getting burnt, pastors in rural areas are being slaughtered, pregnant women have been killed and mutilated.”
He called for immediate federal intervention, warning that the escalating violence could breed a generation bent on reprisal.
“We are not asking for a state of emergency in Benue and Plateau, we are saying we are already in one,” he said.
The cleric said governors in the affected states were trying but lack the capacity to confront heavily armed non-state actors.
“They are not cut out for war,” he said, “This is beyond politics, it is about saving lives.”
He invited President Tinubu for a private meeting with the bishops and requested that Mr. Bwala deliver a letter to that effect.
The bishops also invited Bwala to deliver a paper at the upcoming 2025 synod on the topic: Politics and Christianity in Contemporary Times: A Correlation Analysis.
Responding, Bwala welcomed the delegation and expressed appreciation for the bishops’ candid feedback and support.
He reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to security, welfare and inclusive governance.
“Mr. President does not approach appointments from the prism of religion or ethnicity. Equity and competence have guided his decisions, and that is why Christians and minorities are well represented in key positions,” he said.
On security, Bwala assured the bishops that the president had been actively engaging state governors and service chiefs.
“Every crime is treated as crime, whether committed by a Christian or Muslim, from the North or South, there is no tolerance for evil,” he said.
He said total eradication of insecurity was an ongoing global challenge and emphasised that government remained committed to creating a safe and stable country where citizens can pursue their dreams.
Bwala also addressed recent controversies in the National Assembly, stating that the executive arm respects the independence of the legislature.
He welcomed the bishops’ calls for peace between Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who have been at odds in recent weeks.
“We appreciate your appeal for unity and forgiveness. As fathers of faith, your voice matters in guiding political leaders toward reconciliation,” Bwala said.