Illiteracy is the cause of banditry in Nigeria, says Kukah

The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah, has said the rate of banditry will continue to grow across the country if the government fails to prioritise the education of Nigerian youths.

Kukah said Nigeria is facing banditry and terrorism attacks due to the government’s lack of investment in educating the young generation.

He stated this on Friday while delivering a lecture at the 42nd Actualisation four-day conference of Rotary International, District 9110 in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital.

He attributed the rising security challenges in Nigeria to the consequences of the young generation not having a proper education.

“We are facing the challenges that are the consequences of our children not having education. Now everybody is fearing bandits, everybody is fearing Boko Haram, we are reaping today what we sowed yesterday and it will actually grow worse.

“We have millions of children, at least between 10 and 12 or 15 million children that are on the streets who are begging, each of these children are growing by the day, the Almajiri that is 10 now, in 10 years time he will be 20 years so unless we quickly do something the situation may go worse,” he stated.

He charged philanthropists, religious organisations and other humanitarian organisations to channel their efforts towards combating illiteracy.

He said, “Nigeria must try to combat illiteracy because there is no substitute for education and if we who are educated believe that we are secure then we must think again.” 

On his part, former President Olusegun Obasanjo charged the Rotary club to rechannel their efforts in creating a better world.

Obasanjo who spoke in a pre-recorded video, called on the club to continue to put service to humanity above every other thing.

The former President urged participants to use the conference opportunity to reignite the passion for helping the less privileged and positively impacting society.

The District Governor, Ifeyinwa Ejezie, stated that the club under her watch has done a lot in the area of its focus including basic education and literacy, maternal and child health as well as economic empowerment.

Ejezie said the District has taken the issue of mental health to another level by educating a lot of people, adding that the club equally addressed drug abuse among the youths.

For years, banditry and terrorism have forcibly displaced numerous individuals from their homes, especially in the northern region of the nation.

The escalating insecurity in the country has sparked outrage, prompting stakeholders to demand stringent measures from the Federal Government to combat kidnappings.

A Borno State House of Representatives member, Ahmed Jaha, on Thursday, urged the Federal Government to enlist military mercenaries to tackle the nation’s security challenges, suggesting the recall of those employed during former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.