Founder and Presiding Bishop of Sword of the Spirit Ministries and President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Bishop Francis Wale Oke, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intensify the war against terrorism by decisively flushing out terrorists and compromised elements within Nigeria’s security architecture.
Bishop Oke told journalists in Ibadan, the capital city of Oyo State on Sunday during a media parley, warned that insecurity has overtaken corruption as the most dangerous threat to Nigeria’s unity, stability and continued existence.
“We are coming to the end of a very challenging year. While corruption has long been seen as Nigeria’s biggest problem, insecurity has now surpassed it. If we fail to bring insecurity down, insecurity will bring Nigeria down,” he warned.
The cleric acknowledged recent efforts by the Federal Government to reform the nation’s security system, particularly the appointment of new security chiefs, including the Chief of Defence Staff.
He described the move as a step in the right direction but stressed that appointments alone would not resolve the crisis.
According to him, Nigeria’s security challenges are worsened by internal sabotage, alleging that there are individuals within the security system who deliberately undermine operations and endanger the lives of military personnel.
“There are moles in the system. These are people interested in weakening our security apparatus. Government must flush them out without hesitation. These compromised elements are partly responsible for the killing of our officers,” he said.
Bishop Oke criticised policies that treat terrorists as repentant individuals, insisting that such approaches only embolden criminal networks and further compromise national security.
“There is nothing like a repentant terrorist in matters of national security. Government is not a church service. The duty of government is justice, not appeasement. Terrorists must be confronted decisively,” he stated.
He further commended the Federal Government for seeking international cooperation, particularly with the United States, in tackling banditry and terrorism, noting that such partnerships are necessary in addressing a complex and evolving security threat.
“Asking for help does not mean we are surrendering our sovereignty. Security is a global issue, and cooperation is essential if we are to succeed,” he added.
Bishop Oke urged the government to strengthen intelligence gathering and avoid acting on unverified information, while also warning against ignoring credible security leads.
“Government must not act on fake news. Intelligence must be properly filtered, investigated and verified. At the same time, no genuine lead should be ignored,” he said.
Addressing the role of religion in national cohesion, Bishop Wale Oke called on religious leaders across faiths to speak firmly against the misuse of religion for violence, particularly in conflict-prone states such as Plateau, Taraba and parts of Kwara.
He also cautioned Nigerians against fake prophecies, especially those tied to political outcomes, warning that any prophecy that fails to come to pass should be treated with skepticism.
Looking ahead, Bishop Oke expressed optimism about Nigeria’s future, predicting a significant decline in insecurity, kidnapping and insurgency in 2026, alongside economic improvement and a reduction in the wave of emigration popularly known as ‘Japa’.
“Nigeria will sprout again. We have survived worse situations, and there is light at the end of the tunnel,” he said.
