Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), has urged the Nigerian Government to take decisive measures to eliminate terrorists and their financiers before any potential United States military intervention.
The cleric made the remarks during the November Holy Ghost Service on Friday, responding to recent threats from US President Donald Trump regarding Nigeria’s security challenges.
Adeboye advised President Bola Tinubu to give the newly appointed service chiefs a three-month ultimatum to eradicate terrorists and their sponsors, warning that failure to comply should result in their resignation.
“This is not the time for apportioning blame. Our President inherited this problem; it started before him,” Adeboye said.
Recalling his past counsel to the late President Muhammadu Buhari, he noted that he had once privately urged decisive action when killings escalated, but Buhari did not follow through.
“Some of you will remember who called the service chiefs together and said, ‘I give you three months, get rid of all these Boko Haram people or resign.’ He acted on that advice, but three months passed, and the work was not done,” he said.
Adeboye emphasized that this time, the government must ensure service chiefs are held accountable not only for eliminating terrorists but also for targeting their sponsors, regardless of their influence.
“When giving orders to the service chiefs this time, we should make it clear that they are to eliminate the terrorists and their sponsors, no matter how influential they may be,” he said.
Pastor Adeboye’s warning underscores the urgency for Nigeria to take decisive and comprehensive action against terrorism, targeting both militants and their financial backers before foreign powers intervene.