A rights group, International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety), has made a strong case for an additional serving Cardinal for the Catholic Church in Nigeria as a way of strengthening its membership.

The group observed that of the four Cardinals so far produced by the Catholic Church in Nigeria, three have retired and reached over 80 years of age, including Francis Cardinal Arinze (92), Anthony Cardinal Okogie (88), and John Cardinal Onaiyekan (81), leaving only Peter Cardinal Okpaleke, who is currently 62 years.

Intersociety, in a statement by its Board Chairman, Emeka Umeagbalasi in Enugu, yesterday, stated that Nigeria, with the second largest Catholics in Africa after the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) was too big to be left without a serving Cardinal.

Congratulating the new Pope Robert Francis Prevost (Pope Leo XIV), the group stated that one major tasks facing him was entrustment of the leadership of the Catholic Church in Nigeria in the hands of a brave, courageous and unpurchasable Catholic Bishops and priests, especially against the backdrop of widespread attacks on defenceless members of the church, their church buildings and schools by the country’s well-funded Islamic Jihadists and their patrons.

It alleged that the leadership of the Catholic Church in Nigeria has been enveloped by “builders of heavenly paradises on earth” and disciples of “materialistic evangelism”, leading to the retardation of the growth of the church across the federation.

Continuing, it stated that in the first five months of 2025 in Nigeria, no less than 14 Catholic priests have been abducted, with one killed by Jihadists and other merchants of death.

The group also warned the new Pope and the College of Cardinals to be wary of Papal Knighthood seekers from the Southeast region, accusing four of its five governors to be “more loyal to enemies of the Church and Christian faith than their professed denomination.”