Executive Director of the Kukah Centre, Rev. Fr. Atta Barkindo, has voiced serious worry about the emotional wounds and unresolved conflicts spreading across Nigeria, saying the absence of effective reconciliation efforts could heighten social strain.
During an appearance on Arise Television’s Prime Time show on Tuesday, the 4th of November, 2025, Barkindo shared a disturbing account relayed by a victim in Maiduguri. According to him, a young boy killed his father and brother because they rejected “his own brand of Islam.” He described this as one of many painful stories coming from communities affected by extremism and insurgency.
His comments followed renewed global attention on Nigeria, coming at a time when United States President Donald Trump warned of possible military intervention if the Nigerian government does not address alleged persecution of Christians.
Barkindo explained that the incident mirrors the heavy trauma and broken community ties in areas devastated by violence. He stressed the urgent need for platforms where victims can speak, heal, and rebuild trust. Drawing from Rwanda’s Gacaca model, he noted that truth-telling in post-conflict communities played a major role in restoring relationships.
“There are accumulation of grievances in this country, either against individuals, against institutions, against the government. Why? Because these conflicts happen and nothing is done, and then the society moves on as if everything is okay. So it’s really going to be a very, very big problem,” he said.
At the Kukah Centre, Barkindo said they work to create community dialogue spaces. He added that Nigeria needs something similar to Rwanda’s Gacaca system, where people sit together, tell their stories, and release years of bottled anger and pain. According to him, this is crucial for long-term healing.
“How do we overcome that? At the Kuka center, we try to provide community engagement. And one of the things that is missing, really, is just like what happened in gacha, Rwanda, the Gacaca project, where simply, people come and sit down and tell the truth and onboarding what has been in their mind, just bring out all the poison that have been accumulated over the years, and tell their own stories,” he stated.
READ ALSO: VIDEO: Killings of Christians Not New, Pastor Adefarasin Dismisses US Genocide Claims in Nigeria
He went on to narrate another troubling experience from Maiduguri. “I will give an example myself and Bishop Kuka, when we started this program, we were in Maiduguri just to speak to victims. One of the women said, even if you bring back my son, who is a member of Boko Haram, I won’t forgive him, because he killed his father and his own brothers in my presence, for not believing in his own brand of Islam.”
Barkindo said countless families are carrying similar painful memories, but most have no space to talk about them. “And a lot of families are living with these stories, but they don’t have the platform. There’s no outlet. There’s no outlet to even share what is happening. And I think for us, is a very serious problem.”
He acknowledged the work of organisations already providing psychological help. “If you look at these institutions, like Nim Foundation, run by Dr Akilu, these are the sort of intervention that they are offering. So beyond relief materials, beyond physical rebuilding of houses, the mental, you know, recovery of the person is much more important. And I think that we can only do our best, but the government really has to step up.”
Barkindo called on authorities to intensify support for trauma healing, stressing that emotional restoration is just as important as physical reconstruction.