The Leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to urgently intervene in the case of children reportedly being held by kidnappers in Oyo State.
The cleric also issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde to secure the release of the children, stating that the governor should consider resigning if he fails to act within the timeframe.
Primate Ayodele made the remarks on Sunday while addressing journalists on national issues at the international headquarters of his church in Lagos.
Expressing concern over the plight of the children, the cleric said their continued captivity reflects the worsening insecurity in parts of the country and called on government authorities to intensify efforts to secure their freedom.
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He also criticized Christian leaders and major church organizations for what he described as their failure to speak out strongly against terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and other security challenges confronting the nation.
According to him, many religious leaders have not done enough to hold government officials accountable or advocate for stronger measures to tackle insecurity.
Primate Ayodele reiterated his earlier position that security agencies should deploy available technological tools and tracking systems to locate and rescue kidnapping victims.
He claimed that if authorities possess effective tracking capabilities, such resources should be utilized to secure the release of the children and dismantle kidnapping networks.
The cleric lamented the condition of the abducted children, saying they were likely facing severe hardship while in captivity.
“The children are crying from morning till night. They need help and urgent intervention,” he said.
He further questioned the commitment of both political and religious leaders to addressing the country’s security crisis, insisting that more decisive action is needed to protect vulnerable citizens.
Addressing President Tinubu directly, Ayodele urged the Federal Government to prioritize the rescue of the children and intensify efforts to combat kidnapping and other forms of insecurity across the country.
He also called on state governors to work collectively toward finding lasting solutions to the security challenges affecting many communities.
Turning his attention to Governor Makinde, the cleric urged the Oyo State government to make the rescue of the children an immediate priority.
“Governor Seyi Makinde, stop campaigning and save the children,” he said.
Primate Ayodele maintained that the safety and welfare of the children should take precedence over political considerations, stressing that the government must act swiftly to secure their release and reassure Nigerians of its commitment to protecting lives and property.
Watch Primate Ayodele’s video Here
