Insecurity: We’ve fasted, prayed, now we speak — PFN

The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) has called on the Federal Government to urgently address worsening insecurity and killings across the country, warning that continued violence is threatening national unity and public confidence.

The call came on Sunday as the fellowship concluded its nationwide three-day fasting and prayer programme held across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory to mark the 2026 Global Pentecost Day.

PFN National President, Bishop Francis Wale Oke, who addressed journalists at the close of the exercise, said the programme, which reportedly involved about 65 million Pentecostals nationwide, was organised in response to the alarming state of insecurity and bloodshed in the country.

According to him, Nigerians can no longer remain silent in the face of growing banditry, kidnapping, terrorism and violent attacks.

“We have fasted. We have prayed. Now we speak. We speak because silence aids the killers and their sponsors,” Oke declared.

The cleric lamented what he described as the growing devaluation of human life and the seeming normalisation of violence across the country.

He cited the continued captivity of some of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls and Leah Sharibu, as well as the killing of Deborah Samuel in Sokoto, as painful examples of unresolved tragedies and failures of justice.

Oke said states such as Taraba, Plateau, Benue and Southern Kaduna had become “daily killing fields,” while Edo, Kogi, Ondo and parts of Kwara State had also suffered repeated attacks by armed bandits.

According to him, information reaching PFN indicated that insecurity had displaced residents and allegedly forced more than 30 traditional rulers in parts of Kwara State to flee their domains.

He further decried cases of kidnapping, rape and killings in Borno, Niger, Sokoto, Kaduna and other states of the federation.

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The PFN president particularly referenced the recent abduction of teachers and students in Oyo State, describing the killing of teacher Michael Oyedokun and another victim as tragic and horrifying.

Oke said the gruesome killing of the teacher left him deeply disturbed for days, noting that such incidents reflected a broader pattern of attacks against innocent Nigerians and Christian communities.

“These are unspeakable and despicable acts of terror,” he said, while accusing political leaders of carrying on with “business as usual” despite the worsening security situation.

The bishop also expressed concern over attacks on farmers by armed herders and violent extremism, saying the government had shown inadequate political will to decisively confront insecurity.

“Nigerians are sick and tired of this evil,” he stated, arguing that political leaders appeared more concerned about elections than protecting lives and property.

He further criticised what he described as the rehabilitation of repentant insurgents and reports of their integration into security structures, warning that such moves could erode public trust.

According to Oke, insecurity now goes beyond the loss of lives and has begun to damage national unity, scare away investors, encourage the migration of skilled Nigerians, and weaken trust between citizens and the state.

He revealed that PFN’s National Executive Council met on May 19, 2026, to deliberate on the security crisis and subsequently resolved to embark on spiritual mobilisation through fasting and prayer.

The fellowship consequently urged the Federal Government to fulfil its constitutional duty of protecting citizens irrespective of religion or ethnicity, and to seek international partnership where necessary to address the crisis.

Oke also called on churches across Nigeria to remain united, intensify prayers, and continue speaking against violence and injustice.

While expressing confidence in divine intervention, he stressed that prayer alone must be accompanied by decisive governmental action.

He urged authorities to ensure that perpetrators of violence face justice rather than being rehabilitated.

Responding to questions on the role of the Church in supporting victims of violence, Oke said religious organisations lacked control over arms and security operations but could continue to influence government and provide humanitarian support.

“We do not control arms and ammunition, neither do we control the military. We can only influence the political class to do their work and move decisively,” he said.

He added that churches had continued to spend significant resources providing relief materials, food, clothing, and assistance for rebuilding destroyed homes and churches in affected communities.

Reverend Oke concluded with prayers for forgiveness, healing, and peace, expressing hope that God would “turn our burden into dancing again” and restore peace to Nigeria.