The leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has called on the Federal Government to adopt tougher measures against terrorism, including reviewing the prosecution process for suspected terrorists and kidnappers.
In a statement issued by his Media Aide, Osho Oluwatosin, the cleric argued that the current approach to handling terrorism cases has not sufficiently deterred criminal groups.
He said those confirmed to have committed acts of terrorism should face the maximum punishment provided by law, rather than prolonged court proceedings.
‘There should be no court for kidnappers and terrorists; once they have been arrested and confirmed as terrorists, they should be killed immediately. There is no need charging them to court because they won’t get the deserved punishment. Such crimes should attract the immediate death penalty, and those talking to them and paying ransom should also be arrested. This is how terrorism can end,’ he said.
Primate Ayodele also urged the authorities to investigate and prosecute individuals found to be negotiating with or providing ransom to terrorist groups, including public officials where evidence exists.
The cleric commended the Nigerian Armed Forces for their efforts in combating insurgency and praised the Minister of State for Defence over the directive for troops to take decisive action against terrorists during military operations.
He further appealed to President Bola Tinubu to honour soldiers and senior military officers for their contributions to the fight against insecurity.
‘The Nigerian Army can do better; there are people who want to destabilise the government through insecurity. I urge President Tinubu to give national honours to our soldiers and top officers. They have done very well and should be appreciated for their good work,’ he said.
Primate Ayodele also cautioned against the proliferation of private security outfits without adequate regulation and funding, warning that poorly managed groups could become security threats.
Instead, he advocated greater support for local hunters and community-based security initiatives operating in collaboration with formal security agencies.
The cleric also called on the Federal Government to ensure the protection of a Plateau-based cleric, Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo.
According to him, the government should take proactive steps to guarantee the cleric’s safety, expressing concern over the implications if any harm were to come to him.