The President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Bishop Francis Wale Oke, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intensify the war against insecurity, insisting that terrorists, bandits and their collaborators must face justice without negotiation or exemption.
Speaking with journalists in Ibadan on Sunday, Bishop Oke described insecurity as Nigeria’s gravest challenge, warning that it has overtaken corruption as the biggest threat to national stability, economic growth and unity.
According to the cleric, Nigerians can no longer travel, trade or live in peace as violence has spread across the country, stressing that failure to decisively tackle insecurity could cripple the nation.
While commending President Tinubu for renewed efforts to address security challenges, Bishop Oke praised recent changes in the nation’s security architecture and the Federal Government’s collaboration with international partners, particularly the United States, on intelligence-led joint military operations against terrorist groups.
He dismissed claims that such partnerships undermine Nigeria’s sovereignty, describing them instead as pragmatic steps needed to deny criminals safe havens and restore peace.
“Let the wheel of justice grind heavily on those killing and maiming Nigerians,” he said, stressing that after more than a decade of worsening insecurity, Nigeria must accept strategic help where necessary.
The PFN President strongly opposed policies of negotiating with, rehabilitating or reintegrating terrorists and bandits, warning that there are no genuine “repentant terrorists.” He argued that integrating criminals into society or security structures only weakens the system and endangers citizens.
“Governance is not church service,” Bishop Oke declared. “People who kidnap, rape and kill Nigerians must face the full wrath of the law.”
He further called on the Federal Government to expose and remove moles within the security agencies, blaming intelligence leaks and insider collaboration for the killing of gallant officers and senior military personnel.
Beyond security, Bishop Oke urged the government to focus on good governance rather than short-term palliatives, noting that while relief efforts are appreciated, Nigerians need sustainable solutions to hardship, insecurity and corruption.
He also appealed for fairness in the fight against corruption, cautioning against the use of anti-graft agencies as political tools and calling for equal justice without sacred cows.
On national cohesion, the PFN President called on Nigerians of all faiths and ethnic backgrounds to unite against violence and end bloodshed in states such as Plateau, Benue, Taraba, Kwara and Southern Kaduna. He specifically urged Islamic leaders to speak out against killings carried out in the name of religion, stressing that such acts have no connection with Islam.
Despite the nation’s challenges, Bishop Oke expressed optimism about Nigeria’s future, saying the country still has hope and will rise again with decisive leadership and collective resolve.
He also commended Nigerian journalists for their courage and professionalism, urging them to continue speaking truth to power, even as he hosted media practitioners to a lavish banquet at the event
