How Five Powerful People are Behind Terrorism in Nigeria – Primate Ayodele

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By AbdulRahman TiwaTope

A fresh alarm has been raised over Nigeria’s worsening insecurity after Primate Elijah Ayodele, leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, claimed that five powerful individuals are secretly driving the country’s terror network.

Speaking through a statement issued by his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin, the cleric noted that the federal government must identify and neutralise those behind the violence if the nation hopes to regain stability.

According to him, the wave of kidnappings and terrorist attacks will continue to overwhelm security agencies as long as the people allegedly sponsoring the crisis remain untouched.

Ayodele insisted that these unnamed actors hold strong influence within the network of criminals, stressing that Nigeria may continue to suffer repeated assaults if urgent actions are not taken.

The cleric also cautioned President Bola Tinubu against encouraging any form of negotiation with terrorists. He warned that such talks only embolden criminal groups and expand the business of kidnapping.

Ayodele specifically asked the president to caution Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi and others who openly advocate dialogue with bandit groups, saying their public posture helps to fuel insecurity rather than reduce it.

He argued that every round of negotiation gives terrorist networks more financial strength and wider room to operate, adding that the president risks losing public confidence if he allows the trend to continue.

In his assessment, Ayodele said the terrorism economy has grown into a lucrative industry in Nigeria due to repeated ransom deals and political interference. He claimed that foreign actors are also influencing the situation from behind the scenes.

The cleric added that unless the government increases its intelligence efforts and counters the financial engines powering terrorism, both poor and wealthy citizens will continue to face serious threats.

He urged the president to confront the network directly, emphasising that failure to act decisively will allow terrorism to undermine the administration and plunge the country deeper into crisis.