Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has issued a blunt ultimatum to Nigeria’s security chiefs, calling on the Federal Government to hold them accountable for delivering measurable results in the fight against terrorism. In a video message shared on his official X account on Tuesday, 2 June 2026, the respected cleric demanded that the nation’s service chiefs be given a strict 90‑day deadline to eliminate terrorists and curb the wave of insecurity sweeping across the country – or step down from their positions.
Speaking against the backdrop of persistent killings, mass kidnappings, and brazen bandit attacks that have turned rural communities into battlefields, Adeboye did not mince words. “If I were asked to make suggestions, I would say quietly to our government, ‘Move fast and tell our security chiefs, get rid of these terrorists within 90 days, or resign,’” he declared. The message, which quickly went viral, was delivered as Nigeria marked the 19th day since 46 pupils, students and teachers were abducted from three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State – a crisis that has paralysed basic education in the state and sparked nationwide protests.
Adeboye broadened his charge beyond the ordinary foot soldiers of terror. He insisted that any credible offensive against insecurity must also strike at the financiers and sponsors who keep the deadly networks alive. “When giving orders to the service chiefs this time around, we should make it clear to them that they are not only to eliminate the terrorists; they should eliminate their sponsors, no matter how influential they may be,” he said. The call echoes a long‑standing demand by civil society and security analysts who argue that without dismantling the economic backbone of banditry and insurgency, military gains will remain temporary.
The RCCG general overseer revealed that he had previously counseled a former president – widely understood to be the late Muhammadu Buhari – to impose a similar deadline on security commanders. According to Adeboye, the directive was indeed issued, but enforcement lapsed when the deadline expired without the desired results. “He ran with that advice, but he didn’t follow it through. Because he gave the order as the commander‑in‑chief of the armed forces. The three months went, and the work was not done,” Adeboye recounted. He later questioned the former president about his decision not to act, but declined to share details of their conversation. The lesson, he said, is that ending insecurity requires not only firm directives but also unwavering political resolve and consistent follow‑through.
Adeboye’s intervention comes at a moment of heightened national anxiety. On 15 May 2026, about 12 armed men on motorcycles, dressed in military camouflage, simultaneously attacked Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; Community Grammar School, Ahoro‑Esinele; and L.A. Primary School, Esiele, in Oyo State. The assailants shot sporadically, killing an assistant headmaster, Mr. Joel Adesiyan, and a commercial motorcyclist, before forcing 39 pupils and seven teachers into the bush. A mathematics teacher, Mr. Michael Oyedokun, was later beheaded in a viral video that sparked national revulsion. Among the abducted teachers is the principal of Community High School, Mrs. Rachael Alamu, who has since appeared in a desperate video from captivity, begging the government to negotiate for their release. A two‑year‑old toddler, Christianah Akanbi, is also among the captives. As of 2 June, the 46 victims remained in captivity, and no rescue breakthrough has been announced.
President Bola Tinubu has approved the recruitment of 1,000 forest guards for Oyo State and the deployment of a specialised rescue unit with advanced capabilities, but the measures have yet to yield results. The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has declared an indefinite strike across all public primary and secondary schools in Oyo State, and civil society groups have held multiple protests in Ibadan and other cities. The nationwide pressure has intensified calls for more decisive action.
Adeboye’s ultimatum also referenced earlier security failures, noting that in 2021 the late President Buhari had ordered then‑service chiefs to “take out” bandits, kidnappers and their sponsors, and to adopt a more proactive posture. “He gave the order as the commander‑in‑chief of the armed forces. The three months went, and the work was not done,” Adeboye said, stressing that the current administration must avoid repeating the same cycle of unenforced deadlines.
The cleric’s remarks have drawn sharp reactions. Many Nigerians on social media welcomed the ultimatum, expressing frustration that after years of sacrifice, security agencies have not been able to stop the killings or rescue the abducted. Others pointed out that religious leaders have a role in moral guidance, but that the ultimate responsibility for national security rests squarely with the president and the service chiefs. Adeboye himself acknowledged this limitation, stating that religious leaders can only offer advice, and that the final responsibility lies with the commander‑in‑chief.
As the 90‑day countdown remains a rhetorical call rather than an official directive, the families of the 46 abducted victims continue to wait. The teachers have downed their tools, and the children who were not taken have been sent home. While politicians and clerics debate accountability, the 46 captives remain in the bush, and the service chiefs have yet to issue any public response to Adeboye’s challenge. The question now is whether the government will translate the general overseer’s words into a binding order – or whether, as in the past, the deadline will pass and the silence will be deafening.
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