Primate Elijah Ayodele, founder of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, has warned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu against celebrating the recent United States military airstrike reportedly carried out in parts of Sokoto State, cautioning that armed groups could respond with violent reprisals.
The cleric stressed that the development does not represent a lasting solution to Nigeria’s worsening security crisis and could instead aggravate the situation.
Ayodele’s warning was contained in a statement issued on his behalf by his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin. According to him, the United States action should not be seen as genuine assistance to Nigeria but rather as a move driven largely by Western strategic interests.
He argued that the airstrike has left Nigeria exposed and could further complicate ongoing efforts to curb kidnapping, banditry, and insurgency across the country. Ayodele insisted that Nigeria’s security challenges cannot be resolved through foreign intervention alone.
“Nigerians should not celebrate yet, and President Tinubu should not celebrate either, because the powerlessness of his government is being exposed,” he said. “America can come up with anything against him. This will not stop kidnapping or insecurity in Nigeria.”
According to the cleric, any meaningful progress in addressing insecurity must come from within Nigeria’s own security framework.
“The government of Nigeria must work on it, because the United States cannot solve Nigeria’s problems without the full involvement and coordination of the Nigerian government,” he added.
Ayodele further warned that another bombing could be imminent, claiming that armed groups were already preparing for retaliation following the airstrike.
“Another bombing is coming up, and these bandits are ready for the consequences. They are also ready to counter attack heavily. The government must be prepared for the outcome,” he said.
He called for urgent coordination within the Nigerian military and other security agencies, urging a comprehensive review of existing strategies to avoid setbacks in the fight against insecurity.
The cleric also raised concerns about individuals allegedly involved in negotiations with armed groups, describing them as a major obstacle to peace. According to him, such individuals must be investigated and prosecuted if Nigeria is serious about ending terrorism and violent crime.
While critical of the US airstrike, Ayodele acknowledged that American involvement could help expose those financing terrorism within Nigeria, noting that identifying and cutting off funding sources would be crucial to achieving lasting security.
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