Insecurity: Anglican Bishop urges FG to end reintegration of repentant terrorists

By Chinedu Adonu

ENUGU — The Anglican Bishop of Enugu Ecclesiastical Province and Enugu Diocese, Rt. Rev. Prof. Samuel Obiajulu Ike, has called on President Bola Tinubu to end the reintegration of so-called repentant terrorists, insisting that those involved in terrorism should be prosecuted instead.

Bishop Ike made the call in his presidential address at the third session of the 19th Synod of the Diocese held at St. Peter’s Anglican Church, Ogbete, Enugu.

He lamented that despite the allocation of N5.41 trillion—about 9.3 per cent of the proposed N58.47 trillion 2026 budget—to security and defence, insecurity has continued to worsen across the country.

Condemning the rehabilitation of terrorists, the cleric argued that those responsible for killings and other violent crimes must be brought to justice.

“In a society where a man is sentenced to death for defending himself against terrorists and another is prosecuted for stealing a goat, terrorists must also be made to face trial for their heinous crimes,” he said.

The bishop urged the Federal Government to sanction cabinet members allegedly sympathetic to terrorists, stop referring to Boko Haram members as “insurgents” and officially designate them as terrorists. He also called for action against social media platforms allegedly used by terrorist groups to spread propaganda.

Expressing concern over persistent killings and kidnappings, Bishop Ike cited reports indicating that more than 1,100 Nigerians were abducted in the first quarter of 2026, while attacks in Plateau, Benue and Kaduna states claimed hundreds of lives.

Questioning the impact of huge investments in military hardware, drones and Tucano fighter jets, he said Nigerians deserved better protection.

“We renew our call on the President to act swiftly to ensure the protection of Nigerians. The 2027 elections are endangered if the government fails to guarantee the safety of its citizens,” he stated.

On the economy, the bishop criticised the Federal Government’s continued borrowing, describing it as inconsistent with President Tinubu’s earlier pledge to stop borrowing for capital projects after meeting revenue targets.

He noted that despite the N58.47 trillion 2026 budget, the Senate approved a fresh $6 billion loan in March to finance the 2025 budget deficit.

According to him, rising inflation, the depreciation of the naira and worsening poverty suggest that the government’s economic reforms have yet to improve the living conditions of Nigerians.

“There is increased pain, poverty and hunger in the land. Nigerians are disillusioned and disenchanted. The reforms appear not to have worked; rather, they have increased the cost of living. The Federal Government should rethink its policies and ensure they deliver tangible benefits to the masses,” he said.

The bishop also lamented the worsening electricity supply despite tariff increases following customer categorisation, saying President Tinubu’s promise of reliable and affordable electricity remains unfulfilled.

He recalled the President’s 2023 pledge to improve electricity “by all means necessary,” stressing that the time to fulfil that promise is now, especially after the approval of N3.3 trillion to offset longstanding debts in the power sector.

Bishop Ike added that the installation of a N10 billion solar power project at Aso Rock in late 2025 had further weakened public confidence in the government’s commitment to improving electricity supply for ordinary Nigerians.

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