*Adeboye: Untouchables, Powerful Actors Make Fight Against Terrorism Difficult
*Nigeria On Brink Of Collapse, Says Oyedepo
TWO of Nigeria’s fathers of faith, the General Overseer (GO) of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, and Founder of The Living Faith Church Worldwide (Winners), Bishop David Oyedepo, have commended the United States (US) President, Donald Trump, over the recent military strikes against terrorists in Nigeria.
They also called for more of such action to curb the rising incidence of terror attacks by extremists.
Both clerics spokes recently to an audience of activists of all races and cadres from across the US in Washington DC during an award night for Trump, two Congressmen- Reps Chris Smith and Riley Moore- whom have sponsored a Bill seeking to end terrorism in Nigeria by punishing the sponsors, as well as other activists who have championed the cause of religious freedom in Nigeria.
Adeboye, reacting to recent criticism that he had been silent while extremists killed and kidnapped Christians and other vulnerable communities across Nigeria, said as an elder religious leader, he embarked on a “spiritual warfare,” rather than scream to escalate tension.
On insinuations that he had not done enough because much of the violence was concentrated in northern Nigeria, Adeboye explained that the scale of the crisis had moved beyond what any religious leader or local institution could address alone, saying without external support, Nigeria might not know peace, as terrorists have become emboldened and communities being overrun with relative ease.
Adeboye disclosed that RCCG has established an internally displaced persons camp to help victims of terrorist violence, who were being provided food and relief, even as plans were underway to establish a secondary school for young people in the camp, along with skills training for adults.
He said it was not a surprise when Trump intervened, having followed events and warned of dire consequences for perpetrators of the violence in Nigeria.
Both Adeboye and Oyedepo appealled for more US intervention in Nigeria to tackle insecurity cause by extremists attacks.
At the grand event, tagged, ‘Faith Heroes Award Gala,’ organised by the Save Nigeria Group-U.S.A., with the participation of the US-Nigeria Civil Society Coalition, held at the Hilton Garden Inn, Capitol Hill, Washington D.C., Adeboye urged a global coalition, led by the US and its Western allies, to tackle and defeat terrorism in Nigeria, cautioning that the violence that has consumed communities across the country was no longer distant from him.
According to the Global Patriot, the appeal came as former US ambassador-at-large for International Religious Freedom, Sam Brownback, and Katrina Swett, a prominent advocate for human rights, religious freedom and international justice, criticised the Nigerian authorities for failing to protect citizens of all faiths from extremist violence.
In an emotion-laden address after receiving an award at the gala, Adeboye said terrorism had worsened since December last year’s attacks on terrorist camps in northern Nigeria, adding that the US and other Western powers would need to take more decisive action if peace is to return to Nigeria.
Drawing from Isaac Newton’s first law of motion, Adeboye said Nigeria was trapped by what he described as a structure of untouchables, powerful actors who make the fight against terrorism difficult from within.
He stated: “There are certain people in my country that, I regret to say, are untouchable, and only God can deal with them.
“If you want to help us, help us more. No matter who is in office in Nigeria, only God can help us. Use your influence to help us.”
The RCCG leader thanked the US president and government for the assistance to Nigeria, adding, however, that the intervention has not gone far enough, as Nigeria needs the combined effort of countries, such as the US, Britain, Australia and other Western allies to help confront terrorist groups and restore peace.
While acknowledging that people of different religions have suffered from terrorist attacks, Adeboye said Christians have become the prime targets of many of the killings, adding that none of the major ongoing attacks could be traced to Christians.
The cleric, often referred to as Daddy GO, however, said he did not support sweeping accusations that the administration of President Bola Tinubu was doing nothing to fight terrorism, noting that like Trump, Tinubu’s role as commander in chief was to give instructions to the military, but the effectiveness of those instructions depended on execution.
He recalled having advised Tinubu to meet with Trump to demonstrate seriousness in the fight against terrorism before the December military action, adding that though he does not agree with everything Trump said, the American leader remains the best politician he had ever known, because he acts on his promises.
Adeboye urged Trump to complete the good work he started in December against terrorist camps in Nigeria, saying the terrorists were mocking the faith of their victims, asking, ‘where is their God?’
Oyedepo, in a key note address on ‘My Heart Bleeds,’ Oyedepo warned of total anarchy, while backing the ‘Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026’ Bill, even as he reechoed the urgency, lamenting that Nigeria is “virtually at the brink of collapse.”
He cited the data from the US Congressional findings, which revealled that between 2009 and 2025, an estimated 50,000 to 125,000 Christians were martyred, with over 19,000 churches destroyed, representing a staggering 72 per cent of all Christians martyred worldwide.
Oyedepo expressed support for the US legislative framework seeking to designate the Fulani-ethnic militias, Boko Haram and ISWAP militant groups as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) under international law, referencing the brutal massacres in Benue and Plateau states that claimed over 9,500 lives between 2023 and 2025 alone.
“From the above, you can see that the happenings in our country today call for urgent action from all stakeholders and well-meaning individuals to prevent a situation of total anarchy.
“The intervention of the US in Nigeria’s affairs is a most welcome one. My heart bleeds as I put down these few lines. We look forward to a nation that will be safe, peaceful, and prosperous again.”
Brownback, a former governor of Kansas, who also served in the US Senate and House of Representatives, said it was painful that Nigeria was still bleeding, ostensibly referring to the latest killings of 22 persons in Plateau State by suspected terrorists.
He warned that Nigeria risked losing the nation if terrorists were allowed to overrun it, saying the US wants to help Nigeria defeat terrorism, so that Nigerians could fulfill the promise of their country.
Brownback urged Nigerians and their allies to subdue terrorist networks, including Fulani terrorist groups, and resist any attempt to turn the country into a caliphate.
Swett, in her remarks, described Nigeria as a country of extraordinary people, noting that America must do more to help it fight terrorism, adding: “Yes, the future is in the hands of Nigerians, but America has powerful leverage to do more.”
She expressed satisfaction that the Trump administration was placing Nigeria at the centre of international discussion on religious freedom and terrorism.
In his remarks, President of Save Nigeria Group-USA and convener of the US-Nigeria Civil Society Coalition, Stephen Osemwegie, said the mission would not be complete until the entire terrorist network in Nigeria was dismantled.
He urged both chambers of the US Congress to speedily pass H.R. 7457, the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2025, and send it to Trump for assent.
Osemwegie paid tribute to two members of Congress- Christopher Smith of New Jersey’s 4th Congressional District, and Riley Moore of West Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District- for their sustained efforts in keeping terrorism in Nigeria on the American policy agenda.
He also commended Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo and Leah Sharibu, describing them as symbols of Christian resilience in the face of persecution.
The event, which organisers called ‘Thank You, America,’ brought together religious leaders, Nigerian Diaspora advocates and American human rights voices pressing for stronger action against terrorism and religious persecution in Nigeria.
Among those honoured with the Faith Heroes Award was Oyedepo, who was represented at the event.
