ENUGU — The Anglican Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Rt. Rev. Prof. Samuel Obiajulu Ike, has called on the Federal Government to immediately discontinue its policy of rehabilitating and reintegrating repentant terrorists, insisting that those responsible for acts of terrorism should be prosecuted rather than rewarded with rehabilitation.
The bishop made the call on Friday while delivering his presidential address at the Third Session of the 19th Synod of the Diocese, held at St. Peter’s Anglican Church, Ogbete, Enugu.
Expressing deep concern over the worsening security situation across the country, Bishop Ike argued that the government’s deradicalisation programme sends the wrong message to victims of terrorism and undermines 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.
He urged President Bola Tinubu to stop referring to Boko Haram members as “insurgents” and instead officially designate them as terrorists. He also called for sanctions against cabinet members allegedly sympathetic to terrorist groups and urged the government to crack down on social media platforms allegedly being used by terrorists to spread propaganda and instill fear.
Despite the Federal Government’s allocation of N5.41 trillion—about 9.3 per cent of the proposed N58.47 trillion 2026 budget—to security and defence, Bishop Ike said Nigerians had seen little improvement in the nation’s security.
Citing reports that more than 1,100 Nigerians were kidnapped in the first quarter of 2026, alongside deadly attacks in Plateau, Benue and Kaduna states that claimed hundreds of lives, the cleric questioned the effectiveness of the government’s heavy investment in military hardware, including drones and Tucano fighter jets.
“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 warned.
On the economy, Bishop Ike criticised the Federal Government’s continued borrowing, describing it as inconsistent with President Tinubu’s earlier commitment to halt borrowing for capital projects after improving government revenue.
He noted that despite presenting a N58.47 trillion budget for 2026, the Senate approved a fresh $6 billion loan in March to finance the 2025 budget deficit.
Questioning the impact of the borrowed funds, the bishop pointed to rising inflation, the continued depreciation of the naira and worsening poverty as evidence that the government’s economic reforms had yet to improve the lives of ordinary 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.
Bishop Ike also lamented the persistent crisis in the power sector, stating that electricity supply had deteriorated despite tariff increases introduced under the customer band categorisation policy.
He reminded President Tinubu of his 2023 promise to provide reliable and affordable electricity, saying the time to fulfil that commitment was long overdue, especially following the approval of N3.3 trillion to settle longstanding debts in the power sector.
According to the bishop, the installation of a N10 billion solar power project at the Presidential Villa in late 2025 further eroded public confidence in the government’s commitment to addressing the country’s electricity challenges for ordinary Nigerians.
He urged the Federal Government to urgently review its security and economic policies, stressing that Nigerians deserved better protection, improved living conditions and a government that delivers on its promises.
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