Kaduna Bandit Attack and Nigeria’s Lenten Call to Hope
The Kaduna bandit attack and worsening insecurity continue to deepen fear, hunger, aKaduna bandit attacknd displacement across Nigeria. As Christians begin the 2026 Lenten season, a Catholic priest has urged Nigerians not to surrender to despair but to hold firmly to hope despite the nation’s growing challenges.
Catholic Priest Speaks on Hope Amid Kaduna Bandit Attack
The call came from Dominic Eshikena, the Prior Provincial of the Dominican Province of St. Joseph the Worker in Nigeria and Ghana. He delivered the message in a Lenten reflection titled “A Message of Hope in Challenging Times.”
He acknowledged that the Kaduna bandit attack, economic hardship, and persistent insecurity have pushed many Nigerians into distress, hunger, and forced displacement.
Millions Affected by Insecurity and Hunger
Fr. Eshikena stressed that insecurity has worsened living conditions nationwide. He noted that nearly six million people in Nigeria’s Northeast alone urgently need humanitarian assistance. According to him, the Kaduna bandit attack reflects a wider crisis that continues to displace families and disrupt livelihoods.
Despite these realities, he insisted that despair must not prevail.
“Hope is real,” he said, emphasizing that Lent should inspire action rather than withdrawal from national problems.
Lent Is a Season for Action, Not Escape
The priest explained that Lent’s 40 days of prayer, fasting, and charity should motivate Nigerians to confront injustice and corruption directly. He urged citizens to pray earnestly for leaders at every level and to reject abuse of public office.
He also encouraged Christians to remember those suffering from hunger and displacement when they fast.
Helping Victims of Kaduna Bandit Attack Through Compassion
Fr. Eshikena called on Nigerians to use resources saved from fasting to support vulnerable groups. These include women, children, and families displaced by insecurity and the Kaduna bandit attack.
He added that genuine national renewal must begin within families and individual consciences.
A Vision of Renewal for Nigeria
According to the priest, Nigeria can still experience a rebirth marked by justice and human dignity. However, he said this renewal depends on compassion, moral responsibility, and collective action.
He concluded by urging Nigerians to believe that even in hardship, a “new springtime of life, liberty, and human flourishing” remains possible.
