“Nigeria sliding deeper into despair” – Religious leaders lament

Religious leaders from the Interfaith Dialogue Forum for Peace (IDFP) have expressed concern over Nigeria's worsening socioeconomic and political challenges, warning that citizens are being pushed into despair by poverty and frustration. The group highlighted the evolution of insecurity beyond armed groups to include cybercrime, cultism, youth restiveness, communal clashes, and extremist recruitment.

They emphasized that unless the root causes of rising unemployment, inflation, and unequal opportunities are addressed holistically, millions will continue to suffer. The IDFP called on the government to end the growing culture of social decay and politicization, urging leaders to prioritize policies that guarantee security, justice, and economic justice.

They stressed the importance of unity, inclusivity, and dialogue in addressing the country's deepening crisis, emphasizing that religion should not be politicized for narrow gains but should serve as a unifying force to promote peace and shared destiny among Nigerians. The forum commended recent arrests of Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP) leaders and called.