Matthew Kukah, bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, has lamented widespread killings across the country, saying Nigeria is becoming a “national morgue” under President Bola Tinubu’s watch.

Mr Kukah, in his 2025 Easter homily titled “Mr President: Please bring us down from this cross”, condemned widespread killings and kidnappings across the country.

“Every day, innocent citizens are kidnapped and held under the most inhuman conditions,” Mr Kukah said. “A dark pall of death hangs languidly from north to south. It is impossible to find a home, a family, or a community that has not been caught in the cusp of this savagery.

He added, “Mr President, Nigeria is reaching a breaking point. The nation is gradually becoming a huge national morgue. With a greater sense of urgency, hasten to bring us down from this cross of evil.”

The cleric lamented prolonged suffering amongst Nigerians, adding, “These times of great suffering should be times of hope, hope beyond human imagination — a hope which, as St. Paul assures us, does not disappoint.”

“Nigerians have been dangling and bleeding on this cross of pain and mindless suffering for too long,” Mr Kukah said. “A culture of cynicism and self-doubt over our capacity to secure peace for ourselves pervades our land. Indeed, a majority of our citizens feel that there is no hope in sight.”

Mr Kukah’s lamentation echoes the International Monetary Fund’s stance that poverty and food insecurity remain high under Mr Tinubu’s watch.

In August 2024, Nigerians in thousands hit the streets in a 10-day nationwide protest against bad governance and hunger.

However, Mr Tinubu has repeatedly said hardship is necessary for a better Nigerian economy.