President Bola Tinubu has sent a strong and clear message to insurgents and their supporters, warning that any form of violence cloaked as rebellion will be decisively dealt with.
Speaking through his Special Adviser on Policy Communications, Daniel Bwala, at a high-level meeting with Christian leaders in Abuja, Tinubu declared: “Crime is crime no religion, no tribe can shield it.”
He emphasized that Nigeria’s security forces have received renewed directives to take the fight directly to all criminal elements, leaving no room for excuses or inaction.
“No more hiding. No more excuses. We’re coming for every criminal element,” Bwala stated on behalf of the President.
The declaration came during a meeting with the Charismatic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, led by Archbishop Chivir Chianson, held at the State House. Though initially religious in nature, the gathering quickly turned into a charged statement of the government’s firm resolve to tackle terrorism, tribal conflict, and economic sabotage.
Tinubu’s representative called for unity across religious and ethnic lines, urging Nigerians to confront wrongdoing without bias.
“Let’s stop colouring crime. Whether in cassocks or turbans, evil must be called by its name,” he urged.
The President also addressed the nation’s economic situation, assuring the clerics that despite current hardships, the government’s reform efforts are bearing fruit.
“Strike actions are dropping, revenue is climbing, and states are breathing again,” he said confidently.
Archbishop Chianson didn’t hold back in expressing the concerns of Christians in rural areas, who continue to suffer from banditry and displacement. However, he commended the President’s efforts toward inclusivity—particularly the appointment of Senator George Akume, a Christian, as Secretary to the Government of the Federation. The move was described as “a welcome shift” in Nigeria’s political landscape.
The bishops also lauded Tinubu’s forest guard initiative, calling it a “game-changer” in the battle against criminals exploiting Nigeria’s vast and often ungoverned forest regions.
With a nationwide membership of over 906 bishops, the Charismatic Bishops Conference pledged its support for Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda and announced plans for a national synod in 2025, focusing on prayer, peacebuilding, and rural development.
The meeting was also attended by several high-ranking clerics from northern Nigeria, including Archbishop James Maljit, Archbishop Joseph Jatau Yari, Archbishop Alexander Nyoonkyeh, and Bishop David Gyang signaling broad-based religious support for the administration’s security and unity efforts.