VeryDarkMan Faults Pastor Adeboye Over Tinubu Remarks, Revives 2010 Criticism of Jonathan on Insecurity

Social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), has criticised the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, over comments suggesting that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should not be held solely responsible for Nigeria’s worsening insecurity.

The controversy began after Adeboye spoke at the US-Nigeria Faith Heroes Award Gala in Washington, D.C., on June 23, where he addressed the country’s persistent security challenges, including terrorism, banditry and kidnapping.

During the event, the respected cleric acknowledged that insecurity had spread beyond northern Nigeria to several parts of the country, revealing that he had personally advised President Tinubu to issue a 90-day ultimatum to military commanders to eliminate terrorists or resign from office.

Adeboye also urged the President to identify and prosecute individuals financing terrorism, stressing that those enabling violent groups should face the full weight of the law.

While speaking on the President’s role as Commander-in-Chief, the RCCG leader argued that Tinubu had fulfilled his immediate responsibility by issuing directives to security agencies.

“When a Commander-in-Chief gives an order, he has done his bit. You don’t expect him to wear khaki and go to the battlefield himself,” Adeboye said.

The remarks quickly generated reactions online, with some Nigerians agreeing that the President cannot personally lead military operations, while others argued that he remains ultimately responsible for the performance of the country’s security architecture.

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Joining the debate, VeryDarkMan accused the cleric of applying different standards to President Tinubu compared with former President Goodluck Jonathan.

In a video shared on his Facebook page, the activist displayed archived newspaper reports from 2010 showing Adeboye openly criticising Jonathan’s administration over rising insecurity and kidnappings.

One of the newspaper headlines cited by the activist read: “Adeboye petitions Jonathan over rising kidnappings.”

VeryDarkMan questioned why the cleric appeared more restrained in his criticism of the current administration despite ongoing security challenges across the country.

“Pastor Enoch Adeboye just wants to turn a blind eye because Tinubu is the President. Weren’t you the one in this video protesting years ago with a placard? This is just tribal bigotry,” the activist said.

The social media personality also rejected Adeboye’s argument that issuing directives alone amounted to sufficient leadership.

Drawing an analogy with family leadership, he argued that a father who assigns responsibilities to his children must also ensure they carry out those instructions effectively and take corrective action when they fail.

“As a father, if you give your children instructions to do something and later find out they didn’t do it properly, you either correct them or remove them immediately,” he stated.

According to VeryDarkMan, the same principle should apply to governance, insisting that leaders must be held accountable not only for issuing directives but also for ensuring that their policies produce measurable results.

The exchange has sparked widespread discussion on social media, with opinions sharply divided. Some users supported VeryDarkMan’s call for greater accountability from public officials, while others defended Adeboye’s comments, arguing that the cleric merely explained the constitutional role of the President as Commander-in-Chief.

The debate also reflects broader public concerns over Nigeria’s insecurity, as communities across several states continue to grapple with terrorism, kidnapping, banditry and communal violence despite ongoing military operations.

Security experts have consistently maintained that tackling the country’s security crisis will require improved intelligence gathering, stronger coordination among security agencies, better equipment for security personnel and sustained political commitment from all levels of government.

Beyond the immediate exchange, the controversy has reignited conversations about the role of influential religious leaders in public affairs, with many Nigerians debating whether clerics should focus solely on spiritual guidance or also speak more directly on governance, accountability and national development.

VeryDarkMan Faults Pastor Adeboye Over Tinubu Remarks, Revives 2010 Criticism of Jonathan on Insecurity

Parents Raise Alarm as 37 NECO Candidates Remain Missing After Borno School Attack

Fresh concerns have emerged over the fate of students abducted during Monday’s terrorist attack on Government Day Secondary School, Lassa, in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, as parents say 37 National Examinations Council (NECO) candidates and a school staff member remain missing despite ongoing rescue efforts.

The attack occurred while students were sitting for the 2026 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) conducted by NECO, forcing candidates and teachers to flee as heavily armed terrorists stormed the school.

The incident has once again highlighted the persistent security challenges facing schools in Nigeria’s North-East and renewed calls for stronger protection of students and educational institutions.

According to military authorities, troops of Operation Hadin Kai, supported by the Air Component and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), responded swiftly after receiving a distress call and pursued the attackers into nearby communities.

The security operation led to the rescue of 10 abducted students and one teacher, while several terrorists were reportedly engaged during the pursuit. However, the operation came at a cost, with one soldier and a member of the Civilian Joint Task Force losing their lives.

Despite the initial rescue, many families say they are still searching for their children.

To account for those yet to return home, the Borno State Government opened a register for parents to report missing students and staff.

One of the affected parents, Mbula Bura, whose 19-year-old daughter Esther remains missing, said the register had recorded 37 missing persons, raising fears that dozens of students are still in captivity.

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“Parents who could not find their children were invited to come and register. I discovered that 37 names have been registered so far as missing. My daughter is still missing,” he said.

Providing an official update during a visit to the affected community, Borno State Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Lawan Abba Wakilbe, confirmed that 36 students and one staff member remain in captivity.

According to the commissioner, those still missing include 25 female students, 11 male students and one staff member, while eight victims, including the school’s vice principal, have been rescued and reunited with their families.

Wakilbe assured residents that the state government was working closely with the military and other security agencies to secure the safe release of those still in captivity.

The commissioner, who led a government delegation to Lassa, also met with parents, school officials, traditional rulers and community leaders to assess the situation and reassure families that rescue efforts remain ongoing.

However, frustration boiled over during the visit as some youths staged protests, demanding faster action from security agencies and expressing concern over the recurring attacks on schools and communities in the area.

Earlier, the spokesperson for the Borno State Police Command, Nahum Daso, confirmed the attack, saying suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters invaded the school while students were writing their examinations before abducting an unspecified number of candidates.

Security agencies immediately launched a joint search-and-rescue operation, combing nearby forests and surrounding communities in an effort to locate the victims.

Although no group has formally claimed responsibility for the attack, security experts say the modus operandi resembles previous attacks carried out by ISWAP and Boko Haram, insurgent groups that have repeatedly targeted schools, students and rural communities across Borno State.

The latest abduction has revived painful memories of previous mass school kidnappings in Nigeria’s North-East, including the 2014 Chibok schoolgirls abduction, and underscores the continuing threats faced by schools in conflict-affected communities.

Education stakeholders and humanitarian organisations have renewed calls for the full implementation of Nigeria’s Safe Schools Initiative, urging governments at all levels to strengthen security around schools, especially during national examinations, and improve intelligence gathering to prevent future attacks.

The incident has also raised concerns about the psychological impact on students preparing for national examinations, with education advocates warning that repeated attacks could discourage school attendance and undermine learning outcomes across the region.

As rescue operations continue, anxious parents have appealed to the Federal Government, the Borno State Government and security agencies not to relent until every missing student and staff member is safely reunited with their families.

Parents Raise Alarm as 37 NECO Candidates Remain Missing After Borno School Attack

Many African Pastors Would Lose Their Churches if Enough Jobs Existed – Pastor Chris

Nigerian cleric Pastor Chris Ogugua has sparked widespread reactions after claiming that many pastors across Africa would lose a significant portion of their congregations if the continent had enough employment opportunities and stronger economic systems.

Speaking during a sermon that has since gone viral on social media, the preacher argued that the popularity of prosperity preaching in many African countries is fueled largely by unemployment, poverty and limited economic opportunities rather than by spiritual conviction alone.

According to Ogugua, millions of Africans turn to churches seeking financial breakthroughs because they struggle to secure stable sources of income and economic security.

“All of this prosperity thing we are praying for is ignorance,” the cleric said, adding that if the biblical Job were alive in present-day Africa, “most pastors will lose their ministry.”

The pastor maintained that in countries with stronger economies, young people often have access to part-time jobs and legitimate income opportunities from an early age, reducing their dependence on religious promises of financial miracles.

To illustrate his point, Ogugua shared the example of his 13-year-old daughter, saying that in some developed countries she could earn about £20 per hour by walking dogs while still attending school.

“If my daughter wakes up in the morning and says, ‘Can I walk your dog?’ Every one hour is £20. So my daughter of 13 years can make close to ₦2 million every month and still be a student,” he said.

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He argued that a teenager with such earning opportunities would have little reason to seek prayers against spiritual forces allegedly hindering prosperity.

“When it comes to church and you’re asking them, ‘Pray for the witches against your prosperity,’ she’ll be watching you,” he added.

Ogugua further criticised what he described as Africa’s version of Christianity, alleging that many churches have shifted their focus from the core message of the Christian faith to the pursuit of wealth and material success.

According to him, prosperity has become a product that many religious leaders market because there is a ready audience facing severe economic hardship.

“We have created our own brand of Christianity in Africa. We are selling it, and people are buying it,” he said.

The cleric also questioned the sources of wealth of some affluent individuals, arguing that only a small percentage amassed their fortunes through legitimate means.

“Bring all your rich men. Only very few of them have legitimate wealth. Find out,” he stated.

His comments have generated mixed reactions across social media, with some users agreeing that unemployment and poverty have contributed to the popularity of prosperity preaching, while others argued that many people attend church primarily because of their faith, personal convictions and desire for spiritual growth.

The remarks come as several African countries, including Nigeria, continue to grapple with high unemployment, rising inflation and increasing living costs. Economists have repeatedly identified job creation, skills development and private sector growth as essential to reducing poverty and improving living standards.

While prosperity gospel remains a prominent teaching in some Pentecostal churches, Christianity across Africa encompasses a wide range of traditions and theological perspectives. Many churches focus on discipleship, community development, education, healthcare and humanitarian outreach alongside spiritual teachings.

Ogugua’s remarks have reignited conversations about the relationship between faith, economic hardship and the role of religious institutions in societies facing persistent unemployment and poverty.

Many African Pastors Would Lose Their Churches if Enough Jobs Existed – Pastor Chris