The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take swift and decisive action against terrorism in Nigeria amid rising international pressure and recent threats of possible U.S. military intervention.
Speaking during the November Holy Ghost Service at the Redemption City in Ogun State, Pastor Adeboye urged the Federal Government to move quickly to eliminate terrorists and their sponsors before any potential U.S. action. He advised President Tinubu to engage diplomatically with the U.S. President, Donald Trump, to secure a 100-day grace period, during which Nigeria can demonstrate visible progress in restoring national security.
According to him, the newly appointed service chiefs should be given a strict 90-day ultimatum to wipe out terrorist groups and their financiers or resign. He warned that this time, the fight must not only focus on those directly involved in terrorism but also on their backers, no matter how powerful or influential they might be.
“This is not the time for blaming anyone,” Adeboye said. “Our President inherited this problem, but this is the time to act decisively. When giving orders to the service chiefs, make it clear that they must eliminate both the terrorists and their sponsors. If after 90 days there’s no result, they should step down.”
The cleric recalled a similar moment during the administration of the late President Muhammadu Buhari, when he advised the former leader to give service chiefs a three-month deadline to end insurgency. Although Buhari initially acted on the advice, Adeboye noted that the momentum was lost after the deadline expired without concrete results.
Reflecting on that experience, he said, “The former President gave the service chiefs three months, but when the work wasn’t done, he didn’t follow through. This time, our leaders must make sure that their words are backed with action.”
Adeboye also warned that if the United States proceeds with a military strike on Nigeria, no other world power would come to the nation’s defense. He urged Nigerian leaders to act diplomatically and wisely to avert such a situation.
“If America attacks Nigeria, China will not come to our defense. Russia will not come. Britain will only issue strong condemnations, but that’s all. We are on our own,” he said. “This is not the time for jokes or arguments about religion. Innocent people are dying every day. We must act now.”
He stressed that the issue of terrorism should not be framed as a conflict between Christians and Muslims but as a national tragedy affecting all Nigerians. “It’s not about religion,” he said. “It’s about the blood of innocent citizens being shed unnecessarily.”
Pastor Adeboye further appealed to President Tinubu to use every diplomatic channel available to convince the U.S. to allow a 100-day window before any form of intervention, assuring that if given the opportunity, Nigeria could turn the situation around.
“Let the government use diplomacy to plead for 100 days of grace. Then give our service chiefs 90 days to prove their commitment to this nation’s peace and security,” he said.
The warning came in response to remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump, who recently stated that Christianity in Nigeria was facing an “existential threat” from radical Islamist groups. Trump said his administration would not stand by while atrocities continue and hinted that the U.S. was “ready, willing, and able to act” to protect Christians around the world.
Pastor Adeboye’s message has since resonated widely, drawing attention to Nigeria’s long-standing struggle with insurgency and insecurity. His call for accountability and swift action underscores growing public pressure on the Tinubu administration to deliver results in tackling terrorism, restoring peace, and ensuring the safety of all Nigerians.
