The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah, has urged Northerners to put more efforts toward ending the security challenges bewildering the region.

Kukah stated this during a town hall meeting for the promotion of peace and security held in Sokoto in collaboration with Global Rights and other International support groups on Wednesday.

He noted that the implementation of the meeting by the two bodies was to deploy strategies for increasing access to justice, promoting credible peaceful, democratic processes in the North-West, and strengthening civic participation and peace-building with an emphasis on Kaduna and Sokoto states.

According to him, the project is being implemented by Global Rights in partnership with the Kukah Centre and with support from the CSSF Nigeria Stability program of the United Kingdom Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

The Bishop said the North-West region of Nigeria, previously considered to be relatively peaceful and safe, is now the bane of insecurity in the country, “where banditry and terrorism have created a significant challenge that needs to be tackled to advance women’s rights and voices.”

Kukah told the participants at the meeting that instability in the region has threatened to put women’s issues on the back burner and erode the gains made on gender development over the years.

On his part, Sokoto State Governor, Ahmed Aliyu, described Bishop Kukah as “a man of integrity honour who believes in the continuation of Nigeria as one indivisible entity in respective of our diverse religious beliefs.”

He said the current challenge of insecurity facing the state would soon be overcome, noting that the government is doing everything possible to support the security operatives in the state in their war against terrorist and other criminal gangs.

The governor, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Sokoto State Ministry of Religious Affairs, Abubakar Toronkawa, commended Kukah for his foresight in the search for peace and stability in the North-West, saying with the likes of the cleric, the north and Nigeria at large would be a better place for the citizens to enjoy.

On his part, the District Head of Gagi, Sani Jabbi, urged Bishop Kukah to continue the good work he has started since his assumption of duty in Sokoto as Catholic Bishop of the Diocese.