By: Fabian Apechihin

International human rights lawyer Emmanuel Ogebe has weighed in on Nigeria’s worsening security situation, attributing many of the violent attacks across the country to religious extremism.

This comes as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the Nigerian Police Force, the Nigerian Army, and other security agencies to adopt new strategies to curb the rising wave of insecurity nationwide.

Speaking during an interview on Arise News, Ogebe argued that a significant number of attacks in Nigeria are religiously motivated. He recalled a disturbing statement allegedly made by the late Boko Haram leader, Mohammed Yusuf, regarding an intervention by a former Nigerian president.

According to Ogebe, Yusuf once claimed that the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua personally flew him on a presidential jet and pleaded with him to stop the killing of Christians, whom he described as “infidels.” However, Yusuf reportedly rejected the appeal.

Quoting from the video, Ogebe said:
“Mohammed Yusuf preached and said Yar’Adua flew him on the presidential jet and begged him to stop killing the infidels, but I won’t do it.”

Ogebe cited the account as part of his argument that religious ideology plays a major role in Nigeria’s ongoing security challenges.

By: Fabian Apechihin

The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has recounted how a former minister in charge of Abuja ordered the demolition of 15 RCCG churches within a space of just two weeks.

Pastor Adeboye made the revelation in a recent video from the Holy Ghost Service held in Abuja, where he spoke on the power of praise and reflected on the trials the ministry has faced over the years, while stressing God’s unwavering faithfulness.

Recounting the incident, he explained that the massive demolition happened at a time when RCCG already had an extensive network of churches, which made the impact less noticeable.
“You know, we didn’t even notice because there were many others,” he said.

He also spoke about the remarkable turnout at the previous month’s Holy Ghost Service, describing the crowd as being like a mini-congress. According to him, this was a clear sign of God’s growing presence and expansion in the area despite the resistance the church once faced.

Pastor Adeboye encouraged worshippers to always acknowledge God’s presence in their lives, even in difficult times.
“Even if you don’t want to praise Him for what He has done, something within you is telling you your time has come,” he said.

Quoting from the Book of Psalms, he declared an end to stagnation and the beginning of rapid progress for believers.
“As far as stagnation is concerned, that is over,” Adeboye proclaimed.

He urged members to embrace praise as a powerful tool for breakthroughs, noting that even one hour of genuine praise could revive areas of life that had become stagnant. In a surprising move during the service, he announced that he would not be making an altar call, explaining that true praise itself would bring about divine transformation.

Adeboye further encouraged the congregation to create personal moments of worship.
“Think of a song of your own. You’ll be singing your own, I’ll be singing my own. When we put it together, we have what they call a joyful noise,” he said.
He invited worshippers to begin praising God immediately without waiting for the choir or anyone else.

Concluding his message, the RCCG leader assured the congregation that consistent praise would attract divine intervention.
“Praise Him and watch your enemies defeat themselves,” he said, adding that persistent worship would bring about positive changes and make life easier for believers.

By: Fabian Apechihin

A United States Congressman, Riley Moore, has shared disturbing accounts of violence against Christian communities in Benue State following his visit to several internally displaced persons (IDP) camps in the region.

According to a report by PUNCH on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, Moore said he met dozens of displaced Christians who recounted traumatic experiences of brutal attacks on their villages. The victims described how armed groups stormed their communities, killed relatives, destroyed homes and forced survivors to flee to IDP camps across Benue State.

The lawmaker said the testimonies he heard were deeply distressing and would remain with him for life. He highlighted several cases that illustrated the severity of the violence. One woman told him she was forced to watch as her husband and five children were murdered. Pregnant at the time, she narrowly escaped with her unborn child. Another woman said her entire family was killed before her eyes and that her baby was violently removed from her womb during the attack. A man also recounted how his family was hacked to death while he watched helplessly, sustaining injuries that left one of his arms permanently deformed.

Moore disclosed that over 600,000 Christians are currently living in IDP camps across Benue State, noting that the region has suffered years of violence, largely linked to clashes between farming communities and armed groups. He stressed that displaced Christians should be able to live safely in their ancestral homes without fear of what he described as genocidal violence by Fulani militants.

He called on the international community to pay greater attention to the crisis and support efforts to end the killings. During his visit, Moore also met several Tiv and Catholic leaders, including Bishop Wilfred Anagbe, Bishop Isaac Dugu, and the Paramount Ruler of the Tiv people, His Royal Highness James Ioruza. He described the meeting as an honour and said discussions focused on what he termed a genocidal campaign in Benue State, adding that the United States would not ignore the concerns raised by local leaders.

The congressman also described his overall trip to Nigeria as productive, revealing that he held meetings with Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and other top government officials. According to him, discussions focused on terrorism in the North-East and the persistent killings in the Middle Belt. He said these issues were priorities for both himself and former US President Donald Trump, and that several security measures were discussed to improve Nigeria’s situation.

Moore praised the recent rescue of over 100 abducted Catholic schoolchildren, describing it as a positive achievement under President Bola Tinubu’s administration. He also expressed optimism over a newly established joint task force between Nigeria and the United States but stressed that meaningful progress would depend on concrete actions.

Confirming the visit, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu said the US delegation’s trip was part of ongoing security consultations between both countries. He explained that the talks built on earlier engagements in Washington, D.C., and focused on counter-terrorism, regional stability and strengthening bilateral security cooperation.

The visit comes amid heightened diplomatic tensions following the Trump administration’s redesignation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern over alleged violations of religious freedom, alongside warnings of possible US military intervention. The Nigerian government has consistently denied accusations of systemic persecution of Christians, insisting that insecurity affects all citizens regardless of religion.

Earlier, on November 20, US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth met Ribadu at the Pentagon to discuss joint strategies for addressing Nigeria’s security challenges. On the same day, the US House Subcommittee on Africa held a public hearing on the redesignation. The investigation followed President Trump’s October 31 directive mandating Moore and the House Appropriations Committee to probe the alleged killing of Christians and submit a report to the White House.