BANDITRY: Bishop Oludipe Condemns Rising Intolerance In The North
•••Says Trump’s Genocide Comment, A Wake-up Call
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IBADAN – THE Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Ijebu, Rt. Reverend Dr. Peter Oludipe, has warned that rising intolerance in northern Nigeria is providing fertile ground for banditry to flourish, describing the region’s growing acceptance of extremist influence as a key factor worsening insecurity and mass abductions across the country.
He made the comment during an exclusive interview on Frontline, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese Ijebu, on Thursday, where he spoke extensively on the spate of kidnapping and targeted killings that have shaken many northern communities.
His comments come amid the spate of insecurity, kidnapping and banditry across the country where over 500 people including children, teachers, farmers, worshippers and residents and foreigners in Niger, Kwara, Kebbi, Ijebu-Ode, have been abducted and over 3-billion-naira ransom paid.
Bishop Oludipe lamented that some northern communities have not embraced the culture of peaceful coexistence that characterizes other parts of Nigeria, especially the southwest. According to him, intolerance has allowed violent groups to expand rapidly. “It is because of the level of tolerance that they enjoy in certain parts of the country, particularly in the north, that has given them a leeway into the country. And by which they are now able to almost hold the entire country into a very tight corner.
“If we have a good template that has worked in a particular part of the country, we should encourage our brothers and sisters, particularly in the northern part, to emulate what has worked for others. These fellows have no respect for human life and that makes it extremely dangerous for them to continue to live with us or coexist with us in the country.”
He argued that the refusal of influential voices in the North to firmly confront extremist practices has emboldened criminals, noting that in several communities, “extremists are now controlling certain parts of the land and even imposing taxes on people when they are not the government voted into power.” He said such acts flourish only where leadership has failed to speak decisively.
Bishop Oludipe blamed the crisis partly on deep regional differences that have widened over time. He recalled comments from the interviewer who expressed concern that the north and south appear to be living as two separate worlds.
Responding, the Bishop said the disparities have created a permissive environment where insecurity festers. According to him, “Nigeria is a project, and while every region has its culture and traditions, we must have policies that ensure nobody is cheated or unjustly denied their right to life wherever they live.”
Speaking on the religious killings and ‘Wake-Up Call’ from President Donald Trump, the Bishop condemned the targeted killings of both Muslims and Christians in northern states, saying, innocent worshippers have been attacked even inside mosques, describing such violence as “ungodly” and “highly unacceptable in any normal society.” He warned that Nigerians have started treating mass killings as routine, adding that, “people have been killed and nobody talks about it. We just read it in the newspapers and gloss over it.”
He noted that perpetrators often operate under the guise of religious extremism: “Those who do not even belong to the Muslim faith or Christian faith too must have been affected, and of course Christians. But the challenge actually here has been the fact that those who perpetuate these killings do it in the name of being extremist jihadists. They are doing something in the name of God, but invariably, we know that Islam is a religion of peace as everybody claims or the Quran claims it should be. But there are extremists within the sect who have always been hiding under the cloak of religion to perpetuate evil. And that’s why all of us must speak with one voice to condemn those who are criminals, who are in religious gaps, and then tell them that they do not belong to this kind of society.”
He described comments made by former United States President Donald Trump on religious persecution in Nigeria as a wake-up call, saying Nigerians must not dismiss them. “Today, when you look at the background by which the president is describing the state of emergency or issue of security, it shows that it has become a problem. Why do we have to have a wakeup call from America before we can now begin to address this as a nation? It is because over time we have left undone the things we need to do.” He urged citizens to value the sanctity of life and pressure the government to take stronger action.
Bandits’ Tactics and Security Failures
Speaking further, Bishop Oludipe said bandits have intensified kidnappings in recent weeks because they fear that international attention on Nigeria’s security crisis may lead to stronger military operations against them. He explained that, “all these abductions are a way to get innocent citizens to use as shields in the forest, because they know they have been identified and could be wiped out if they remain where they are.”
He criticized the structure of Nigeria’s security network, stating that the system requires urgent overhaul. Citing recent incidents, he expressed shock that security operatives abandoned their positions shortly before an attack on schoolgirls in Kebbi State. “These are the issues we need to deal with. We must ensure that we have the right people in the right places within our security forces.”