From Cyriacus Nnaji
His Grace, the Most Reverend Alfred Adewale Martins, Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, has decried the state of insecurity in the nation.
Archbishop Martins who spoke to the media during the Crism Mass and Renewal of Priestly Vow at the Holy Cross Cathedral, in Lagos on April 17, 2025, also gave his consent appealed for establishment of state police as a way of curbing the high rate of insecurity in the country.
He said “It has been such distressing over the last few weeks in particular, it has been there all the while but in the last few weeks, it is actually distressing, the amount of insecurity we have experienced, that we have been told about, especially in Plateau State, Benue State and Borno states.
“It has been a real source of concern for many people and we wonder, what exactly is going on when people are dislodged from their home state? And a dislodgement that almost looks like displace them so that we can take their place, that is what it looks like, and that is very concerning and that is why one needs to call on those who are saddled with the responsibility of securing our nation to take charge now so that things don’t get out of hand,” Archbishop Martins stated.
He added that is obviously this that are being killed and displaced would not fold their arms rather many of them were already thinking of self defence which would certainly lead to chaos, and therefore called for the establishment of state police. “Those who are undergoing this stress of being killed and maimed, they are not just going to sit and watch, they are beginning to think of how to defend themselves, and unless the state takes action, we are going to land ourselves in chaos, and that is why I am of the opinion that we begin to think seriously about the issue of state police, so that the state can have some measure of control over their localities. Whatever the challenges with state police, I am sure there are some ways of overcoming them.
“We must think seriously enough about how to ensure how to rescue the nation from the challenges of chaos that are arising from all these things that we are experiencing.”
On state of the poor economy, he said “Certainly there is obviously no doubt that many of our people are having challenges of even such a basic thing as food. Food is not basic any more from the way things are now in our country, many have to beg before they can eat and this is very very sad especially in a nation that is full of abundance, all kinds of resources are here. Well of course we know we didn’t get here in one day, it has been a long coming thing and there has not been adequate response to the challenge and as a result we are where we are today.”
Archbishop Martins maintained that all hands must be on deck to ensure that the people are rescued from hunger and lack. “In order that it may not get worse, it is necessary for the government at all levels, local, state and federal, to really think seriously, we have lots and lots of experts, in the growth of the economy, we should harvest all the thoughts, not to restrict them to those who are officially in government, all the thoughts that are there, and distill them so that the people can feel a sense of relief from hunger and lack.”
On his Easter message, he revealed that Jesus Christ through Easter brought a new life. “Easter is a new life, that Jesus brought to the world through His death and resurrection. And that new life is an indication that there is nothing impossible for God to do.
If Jesus can rise from the death, it means everything that is dead in our lives either as individuals or as a nation, can also be restored and this is a message of hope we should begin to allow ourselves to take in
“But it is also a challenge to those who have responsibility of ruling us to do all that they need to do in order to ensure that resurrection of Christ takes its effect in the lives of his people,” Archbishop Martins maintained.
Earlier while delivering Homily, Rev. Anthony Akinwale said the priest must strive for holiness of life, even as he added that holiness is the antidote for corruption in our nation. “Our mission as priestly people of God , is to strive for holiness of life, and to sanctify the world by our own in our homes and places of work, play and leisure, in our places of buying and selling.
“Holiness is the antidote for corruption in our society. And we are not helpless for the one who instructs us in his words enables us by his grace and we pray in this Crism Mass may God graciously grant that been sharers in the consecration of His son may bear witness to his work of redemption in the world ,” he stated.
