Anglican Bishop blasts govt over rising insecurity, questions security budget

The Anglican Bishop of Oyo South Diocese, Rt. Rev. Dr. Olufemi Familoni, has issued a stinging indictment of the federal government’s handling of insecurity in Nigeria, demanding accountability for the billions of naira allocated to security that has yielded little protection for citizens.

Speaking through an Easter message released to the media on Saturday, April 5, Familoni — the pioneer bishop of the diocese — said Nigeria had descended into a state of anomie, warning that no nation could make progress while the lives and property of its citizens remained under constant threat.

“Life no longer means anything to us in Nigeria. Terrorists strike and kill people, yet we move on as if those who died were not human beings. The government must take responsibility because the buck stops at its table,” he said.

The bishop reserved particular concern for the ongoing killings in the Middle Belt region, questioning why repeated security votes had failed to translate into safety for ordinary Nigerians.

“Why do we vote huge sums of money for security, only to receive death and insecurity in return? Where is the money allocated to security going? Why is the government not equipping security personnel? Who is sabotaging these efforts?” he asked. “The whole situation is befuddling.”

Familoni called on the government to stop treating human lives as political currency, stressing that the protection of citizens was the primary and non-negotiable duty of any government.

He also commiserated with families who had lost loved ones to terrorism and communal violence.

Beyond his political observations, the bishop used the Easter season to offer a message of faith and resilience to Christians across his diocese, drawing on the symbolism of the stone rolled away from the tomb of Jesus Christ.

“The stone was rolled away for the women so they could see the tomb was empty. An empty tomb means Jesus is alive. That stone was rolled away on Resurrection Morning to give you and me hope,” Familoni said.

He described the resurrection as the ultimate demonstration of victory over death, evil, and despair, urging Nigerians not to surrender to hopelessness in the face of hardship.

“Bad leadership and corrupt politicians can be stones that have to be rolled away in our nation,” he noted, praying that every obstacle — whether to joy, good health, or national progress — would be removed.

The bishop encouraged Christians to anchor their faith in the resurrection story. “The story of resurrection is a clear indication that we have a secure eternity. God is on our side. Our future is sure because we have Christ,” he said.