Adeboye to Service chiefs: Tackle insecurity in 90 days or resign

With terrorist attacks, kidnappings and banditry continuing to unsettle communities across Nigeria, Enoch Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, has called for a bold approach to tackling insecurity, urging the Federal Government to give security chiefs a 90-day ultimatum to defeat terrorists or resign from office.

Adeboye urged the Federal Government to hold Nigeria’s security chiefs accountable for the country’s worsening security crisis by giving them a 90-day deadline to eliminate terrorists or vacate their positions. The influential cleric said the fight against insecurity requires urgent action, stronger political will and a results-driven approach, warning that continued violence across the country demands decisive measures from those entrusted with safeguarding lives and property. He also called on authorities to go beyond targeting terrorists and ensure that individuals financing and supporting their activities are identified and brought to justice, regardless of their status or influence.

Adeboye made the call in a video shared on X on Tuesday, where he expressed concern over the persistent wave of terrorism, banditry and kidnappings across the country and urged the government to act swiftly to restore security.

According to him, security chiefs should be judged by their ability to deliver concrete results in the fight against terrorism.

“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,’” Adeboye said.

The cleric stressed that military operations should not stop at eliminating terrorists alone but should also target those who provide financial and logistical support to criminal groups.

“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 added.

Adeboye recalled making a similar recommendation to a former Nigerian president during an earlier phase of the country’s security challenges. According to him, the president acted on the advice by issuing a directive to security officials, but the order was not fully enforced when the deadline expired.

He said the experience highlighted the importance of strong political will and strict implementation of government directives if lasting solutions to insecurity are to be achieved.

The respected cleric maintained that holding security leaders accountable for outcomes would send a strong message about the government’s commitment to ending violence and protecting citizens.

His remarks come amid renewed concerns over rising terrorist attacks, banditry and kidnappings in several parts of Nigeria. The security challenges have continued to fuel calls from citizens, civil society groups and security experts for more decisive action to dismantle criminal networks and restore peace across affected communities.

Adeboye’s intervention adds to growing pressure on the government to strengthen its response to insecurity and adopt tougher measures against both perpetrators and their sponsors as the country grapples with one of its most persistent national challenges.