The Catholic Bishop of Yola Diocese, Bishop Stephen Dami Mamza, has called on people of Northern Nigeria to take greater responsibility for addressing the insecurity and displacement affecting the region.
Bishop Mamza made the call during a Sunday Mass commemorating the World Day of Migrants and Refugees at Christ the King Catholic Church, Sangere Numan Road, Yola.
Speaking on the theme, “Even Just One of These Children,” the Bishop said tackling insecurity and the humanitarian crisis in the North cannot be left entirely to government, stressing that communities and citizens must play an active role in finding lasting solutions.
He said the causes of much of the insecurity and displacement experienced in Nigeria are concentrated in the northern part of the country, adding that people from the region therefore have a crucial role to play in ending the crisis.
Bishop Mamza also urged Christians to demonstrate their faith through practical actions, saying genuine commitment to humanity must go beyond words.
He cited a 2025 United Nations refugee agency report which put the number of people forcibly displaced globally at about 117.8 million, with millions affected across Sub-Saharan Africa.
According to him, about 3.7 million people are displaced in Nigeria, with the North-East, North-West and North-Central among the areas bearing a significant burden of the crisis.
The Bishop lamented that insecurity has continued to disrupt communities, separate families and force thousands of people from their homes, particularly in northern Nigeria.
He called for stronger cooperation among citizens, government institutions, religious organisations and traditional authorities, saying collective action is required to restore peace and enable displaced persons to return home.
Bishop Mamza particularly appealed to political, religious and traditional leaders in the North-East to put aside political and other sentiments and prioritise peace, justice, security and the resettlement of displaced persons.
He stressed that while government has a major responsibility to protect citizens, Northern communities must also recognise that they have a central role in resolving the insecurity affecting their own region.