The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Most Rev. Matthew Hassan Kukah, has warned against the neglect of children in society, noting that such neglect can have negative effects in the future.

Bishop Kukah, who made the observation in his 2025 Christmas message, said children must be protected as they represent the future of Nigeria.

Naija News reports that in his message entitled “Joy and Hope in a Time of Tribulation,” Bishop Kukah lamented the challenges of insecurity and violence threatening the nation.

However, he reminded Christians that the birth of Christ remains a beacon of hope even in the darkest times.

Speaking against the backdrop of the challenges of the insecurity ravaging some parts of the country, and its impact, Bishop Kukah said the terrorists, bandits and other criminals are children produced by the society.

He described perpetrators of violence as products of failed systems and toxic politics.

“Whether we call them bandits, kidnappers or extremists, they are our children. They came out of our own loins.

“Our children are our future,” Kukah said.

As a remedy, Kukah called for serious investment in education and moral renewal, warning that otherwise, Nigeria risks further descent into chaos.

“We must either renovate, educate or perish,” he declared.

The clergyman also expressed deep concern over the plight of children globally and in Nigeria, saying the innocent children are the ones paying the highest price for the dysfunctional system.

He lamented that innocent children are exposed to societal ills such as kidnapping, abuse, forced labour and early marriage, which are all beyond their control.

He referenced the abduction of schoolchildren in places such as Chibok, Dapchi, Maga and Papiri, noting that nearly 2,000 children have been affected by such crimes in Nigeria. The Bishop also mentioned cases from Gaza to Sudan on the international stage.

The bishop submitted that the violence ravaging Nigeria, particularly in the North, is rooted in years of poverty, illiteracy, miseducation and moral decay.

Emphasising the Christian response to persecution, Kukah rejected retaliation and violence, urging believers to rely on faith, prayer and moral witness rather than weapons.

Referencing the biblical record where Jesus admonished Peter to put away his sword, Kukah said, “Violence cannot defeat violence.”

He added that history shows Christianity has survived persecution and outlived empires through faith and resilience.

The Catholic Bishop in his Christmas message also called on Nigerian leaders to use the country’s resources for the common good by confronting insecurity, poverty and bad governance.

Despite the challenges in the country, Kukah urged the citizens not to lose hope, stressing that Christmas is a story of light’s triumph over darkness.

“By the birth of Christ, Emmanuel—God is with us,” Kukah said, stressing that the light of Christmas “is a light that darkness cannot overcome.”

Kukah urged Nigerians to resist division and hatred, calling for unity in mourning and healing. He said Nigerians must draw strength from shared suffering and collective hope.

“We have buried our dead together. We have mourned together,

“We must hold together in darkness so we can welcome the light together,” he said.

Bishop Kukah, however, commended the government and the security forces for their efforts leading to the safe return of abducted schoolchildren.

He described the incident as “one ordeal too many” and prayed it would mark the end of such tragedies.

He called on Christians to show the light and attributes of Christ as they celebrate this year’s Christmas.

“We do not celebrate Christmas as a feast or a date on our calendar.

“We celebrate it as a vocation — to let the world see and experience the face of Jesus through lives of love, peace and reconciliation,” he said.

He concluded by wishing Nigerians a happy Christmas, urging them not to surrender joy and hope despite the nation’s trials.

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