Primate Ayodele Demands Arrest of Terror Financiers

Primate Elijah Ayodele, the spiritual head of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, has issued a stark warning to President Bola Tinubu, insisting that Nigeria’s persistent insecurity will never abate unless the politicians who finance terrorism are immediately arrested. His statement, released on Tuesday, frames the current security crisis as one fundamentally sustained by political patronage.

In a statement signed by his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin, Primate Ayodele argued that all current and future efforts to curb terrorism will ultimately be “wasted” if the identities of the financial backers are not revealed and firmly dealt with.

He contended that even external assistance, such as military intervention from the United States, would prove ineffective because the financiers remain the true root cause of the prolonged security crisis. Until these individuals are held accountable, he claimed, meaningful progress will remain elusive.

The cleric was unambiguous in his demand for accountability, naming the specific categories of political figures he believes are culpable.

“If the government doesn’t arrest those financing terrorism, we are not yet serious; it will not end,” the Primate asserted, directly challenging the government’s commitment to ending the violence.

He continued, “There are governors, top senators, and former governors in this category, and they should be arrested.” He stressed that a failure to do so demonstrates an unwillingness to achieve a true resolution.

Beyond the call for political arrests, the prophet offered concrete suggestions for reforming the nation’s security architecture. He strongly advised President Tinubu to immediately approve a comprehensive restructuring of law enforcement bodies.

Primate Ayodele suggested the simultaneous creation of state police, federal police, and regional police forces. He argued that this multi-layered approach would significantly “help to cushion the effect of insecurity in the country.”

He also urged the nation’s security agencies to intensify their focus on two critical national concerns: security and the economy. The spiritual leader highlighted a crucial operational flaw that provides sanctuary for criminal elements.

He advised the agencies to “take efforts to bring down bushes across Nigeria because that’s where they are hiding,” pointing to the need for physical counter-insurgency measures targeting terrorists’ hideouts and logistical bases.