Seeks probe of officers profiting from insurgency
The Bishop of Anglican Diocese of Enugu, Rev. Prof. Samuel Ike, has called on the Federal Government to consider and approve the creation of state police, to curb the rising level of insecurity across the country.
The clergyman also urged President Bola Tinubu to investigate the strongly rumoured complicity and collusion of top security and intelligence chiefs with the terrorists and bandits, a development he said has been fueling insurgency in the country.
Bishop Ike made the appeal on Monday at a press conference heralding the second session of the 19th synod of the diocese, holding at St. Paul’s Church, China Town, Enugu from 26th to 29th June, 2025 with the theme: “living by every word of God”.
Ike who lamented that insecurity situation had left most parts of the country helpless, said state and community police would help to end the current insecurity situation in the country and remove Nigeria’s name from the global terrorism index.
“We urge the president to cause, whether by legislative agenda or whatever process, the creation of state and community police by an act of parliament. This will help to end the current insecurity situation in the country and remove Nigeria’s name from the global terrorism index.
“That is not the image of a true Nigerian and it’s robbing in the reputation of an average Nigerian. It’s really affecting the psyche of every Nigerian in every airport across the world,” he said.
While commending the president for paying a condolence visit to one of the communities affected by herdsmen killins, the cleric call on the President to go beyond visiting the affected communities, to as a matter of security urgency of utmost importance, “investigate the strongly rumoured complicity and collusion of top security and intelligence chiefs with the terrorists and bandits.
“The president should also investigate the wide rumours that our top security chiefs are turning this war against insurgency and terrorism into honey pots of multi million business empires. We’ve read about security chiefs who divert millions of naira meant to fight insurgency.
“The president should take decisive action and where these officers are found negligent, complicit and guilty of these allegations, they should be prosecuted and flushed out.
“We demand that the president should place a perform or be sacked order on the service chiefs.
“We also urge the president to cause a release, of all the drones, including Tucano Jets, the country spent billions and bought for the purpose of the war against insurgency. The information we have is that a lot of those jets are not being used. So, why did we waste money buying the equipment while the reason for which they were purchased is still prevalent?”
While congratulating Nigeria on its 26 years of uninterrupted democracy, the bishop lamented that in spite of democracy, the poverty index, spiraling inflation, high cost of living and transportation, with about 47 percent of Nigerians reported to be living below the international poverty line of 2.15 dollars per day
He added that corruption seems to have permeated the nation’s systems as no one seems to do something without cutting corners.
“Government agencies with the statutory functions in the country must do something to regulate these things. The fight against corruption seems to be weak, tepid and timid. And the lifestyles of most of our leaders are not helping matters. The spending spree among those in government are clearly fueling corruption by the day.
“If our leaders should cut their appetite for flamboyant lifestyle, and live in tandem with the prevalent situation in the country, it will change a lot about the perception by the masses. We need a change of mindset and attitudinal change to move Nigeria forward,” he said.
Speaking on the theme, “living by every word of God”, the bishop said it is an aspect of the church’s revival agenda in her episcopacy, “which means we’re at the threshold of revival”.
He said even Nigeria as a nation could witness revival capable of moving it forward if everyone imbibed a change of mindset and attitudinal change.
According to him, when a nation or society begins to experience revival, “there’s a palpable experience of God’s presence, power and glory. There’s also joy, peace and prosperity amongst the people.
“And these can only happen when the people fulfill the following three Rs conditions: Renewed obedience through the word of God; repentance from every known sin and relentless in making self induced prayers,” he said.
