The President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Bishop Francis Wale Oke, has made strong remarks over ongoing terrorist violence against Christians in northern Nigeria, alleging that the attacks are part of a calculated attempt to eliminate Christianity in the region and establish an Islamic caliphate.
Bishop Oke made the claims in a reaction reported by The Sun on Saturday, January 17, 2026, where he expressed deep concern over what he described as the real motive behind the sustained attacks on Christian communities.
According to him, the violence is not random but driven by a clear ideological agenda. He alleged that the ultimate objective of the terrorists is to wipe out Christianity in the North and impose an Islamic caliphate, warning that Nigerians must not continue to ignore the gravity of the situation.
The PFN President also criticised individuals he accused of indirectly enabling terrorism through negotiation and calls for amnesty. In particular, he referenced Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, who has publicly engaged bandits and advocated forgiveness for them.
“If you look at it, including the Sheikh that has been negotiating forgiveness, that is arrant nonsense,” Oke said. “The man shouldn’t be walking free on the street. He should be locked up.”
Drawing a comparison between criminals and those who support or legitimise their actions, Bishop Oke argued that facilitators should be held equally accountable.
“The greater thief is not the one who steals,” he said. “The one who aids and abets is part of the gang. We shouldn’t tolerate them at all.”
His comments reflect growing frustration among Christian leaders over the continued attacks in the North and what they see as weak consequences for those advocating leniency or engagement with violent groups.
Bishop Oke’s remarks add to the widening debate on how Nigeria should address insecurity, terrorism, and the role of dialogue versus strict enforcement in confronting armed groups.
