From Oluseye Ojo
The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) has urged President Bola Tinubu to act decisively as Commander-in-Chief to curb the escalating banditry and terrorism plaguing the nation.
Speaking in Ibadan on Wednesday, PFN President Bishop Francis Wale Oke called the violence, particularly in Benue State, a “mindless, satanic act” against God’s will.
He stated, “The killings across the nation, especially in Benue, are heartbreaking. The federal government must live up to its responsibility. Nigerians voted for a Commander-in-Chief, not a Mourner-in-Chief.”
Oke mentioned recent attacks in Kwara, Benue, and Sokoto, where suspected bandits killed at least 21 people, part of a broader wave affecting Plateau and Enugu. He dismissed claims that foreign terrorists are solely responsible, saying, “The idea that the killers are foreigners doesn’t hold water. The Nigerian government must defend the country’s territorial integrity.” He accused the government of lacking political will and protecting “sacred cows” due to ethnic ties.
Criticising National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu’s claim that the Tinubu administration inherited a “bastardised situation”, Oke urged Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun to take concrete action.
He added, “Someone is clearly misleading the president, and if he truly doesn’t know what’s happening, then those responsible should be held accountable and replaced with capable individuals.”
The PFN demanded an end to the killings, stating, “We are tired of the killings.”