‘If we don’t crush insecurity, it will crush Nigeria’ — PFN president

President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Francis Wale Oke, has described insecurity as Nigeria’s most pressing challenge, warning that failure to decisively confront armed groups could threaten the country’s survival.

Oke spoke during a media luncheon with selected journalists in Ibadan, Oyo State, where he reflected on Nigeria’s security situation in 2025 and shared expectations for 2026.

According to him, insecurity has overtaken corruption as the country’s most urgent problem, as it now affects movement, business, worship, and daily life.

“Insecurity has suddenly surpassed the matter of corruption as the number one challenge in Nigeria, because where there is insecurity, we cannot travel freely, and we cannot do business freely,” he said.

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Oke commended Bola Tinubu for steps taken to address security lapses, citing recent changes within the security architecture.

“I want to commend the Federal Government as the government of President Bola Tinubu is stepping up the fight against insecurity,” he said, adding that recent appointments and restructuring signal “the determination of President Bola Tinubu to deal with the matter of corruption, and of insecurity head on.”

He urged the president to take tougher action against criminal networks and internal collaborators.

“If we don’t bring insecurity down, insecurity will bring this nation down. The Commander-in-Chief should be Commander-in-Chief indeed, to deal with it,” he said.

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Oke criticised past policies that sought to reintegrate so-called repentant bandits into the security system, describing the approach as dangerous.

“There is nothing like repentant terrorists,” he said. “Governance is not a church service.”

He also welcomed recent military cooperation between Nigeria and the United States, describing it as a pragmatic response to years of escalating violence.

“We commend our President in agreeing to cooperate with the American government to coordinate a joint effort between the American military and Nigerian military to flush out these bandits,” he said.

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Addressing claims of targeted violence against Christians, Oke said religious extremism remains a serious concern, while acknowledging that victims cut across faiths.

“So, we’ve never denied that there is Christian genocide in Nigeria. But other people are being killed also,” he said. “Whether Muslim, Christians, or anybody else, no Nigerian should be killed needlessly.”

He called on Islamic leaders, including the Sultan of Sokoto, to publicly denounce extremist violence.

“Let the leaders tell them to stop using the noble religion to commit atrocity and evil. Islam is not evil,” he said.

Looking ahead, Oke expressed optimism about 2026, predicting improved security and economic recovery.

“2026 will witness a drastic reduction in insecurity, kidnapping, and all this genocide that we’re talking about,” he said, adding that economic improvements could also reduce emigration pressures among young Nigerians.