The Leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has cautioned President Bola Tinubu against celebrating the recent United States military strike in Sokoto, warning that bandits and terrorists are already planning severe retaliatory attacks across Nigeria.
In a statement iissuedon Monday by his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin, the cleric argued that the US action does not amount to real assistance for Nigeria, claiming it masks broader Western interests rather than addressing the country’s security challenges.
Primate Ayodele warned that the strike could worsen the situation, stressing that terrorists are prepared for the consequences and may launch heavy counter-attacks. He urged the Nigerian military to urgently regroup and devise strong strategies to prevent setbacks in the fight against insecurity.
According to him, the incident has further exposed what he described as the weakness of the current administration, noting that foreign intervention alone cannot halt kidnapping, terrorism, or banditry in the country.
“Nigerians should not celebrate, and President Tinubu should not celebrate either. This action will not stop insecurity or kidnapping. The government’s helplessness is being exposed, and America can act in ways that may not favour Nigeria,” Ayodele said.
He added that another attack could be imminent and called on the government to prepare adequately for possible reprisals.
The cleric also criticised individuals allegedly involved in negotiating with terrorists, describing them as major obstacles to ending insecurity. He insisted such actors must be identified and prosecuted if the country is serious about restoring peace.
While acknowledging that US involvement could help uncover terrorism financiers within Nigeria, Ayodele questioned the fate of those mediating with bandits, urging the military to focus on them as part of a well-coordinated security plan to prevent further escalation.
