The Bishop of Egba Diocese, Anglican Communion, and Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Ogun State, Dr. Emmanuel Oludaisi Adekunle
has raised concerns over the worsening security situation in the country, describing Nigerian Christians as vulnerable targets of banditry and kidnapping.

The cleric said the prevailing insecurity had forced many church leaders to abandon public displays of their clerical identity while travelling to avoid being identified by criminal elements.

“Banditry is what we are facing generally now, including the church. I always tell people that an average Christian in Nigeria is already a target; the person may not even know it. How much more a minister of the Gospel,” he said.

According to him, unlike in the past when bishops and pastors travelled openly in clerical attire, the current security realities demand caution.

“If you want to travel today, you travel as a commoner. You conceal your identity so that you will not be easily recognised or picked by criminals,” he added.

The bishop, however, commended security agencies for their response to the recent kidnapping incident in Owo, Ondo State, praising the Police, the Department of State Services (DSS), the military, Amotekun Corps and local hunters for their coordinated efforts, which led to the rescue of victims.

He said the operation had demonstrated that the South-West would not tolerate the spread of violent crimes that had become prevalent in parts of northern Nigeria.

“What happened in Owo has sent a strong message that the Yoruba region should not be taken for granted. While we mourn the victim who was killed, others who were abducted were rescued alive. The security agencies deserve commendation for the strategy they adopted”.

The cleric appealed to governors across the South-West to deepen regional collaboration on security, insisting that greater synergy among Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti states would strengthen the fight against criminality.

He also urged governments to provide modern equipment, including drones and surveillance technology, for Amotekun operatives and local hunters, whom he described as critical partners in tackling insecurity.

“They know the forests where conventional security agencies sometimes find it difficult to operate. They should be properly equipped because money is being appropriated for security,” he said.

The bishop disclosed that the leadership of CAN had advised churches to scale down night vigils conducted in open environments to minimise security risks.

According to him, churches intending to hold such programmes should do so within secured church premises while allowing security agencies adequate room to carry out their operations.

“The God we pray to at night also hears us during the day. We are encouraging churches to do more of their prayer programmes during the daytime. This is a collective position of CAN because we must not expose worshippers unnecessarily,” he said.

The cleric also warns Christians against false prophets as well as advises churches against open night vigils

The cleric also cautioned Christians against what he described as the growing influence of false prophets and miracle merchants who exploit the desperation of believers.

He urged worshippers to remain committed to biblical teachings and discipleship instead of pursuing promises of instant miracles and prosperity.

“People should believe in God and remain faithful to their churches. We are not against prayer, but Christians must be careful of ministries built around ‘instant miracles’ and emotional manipulation,” he said.

He noted that the Anglican Communion in Nigeria had intensified discipleship programmes, with particular emphasis on strengthening family values.

“If families are properly nurtured, society will become better. The family is the foundation of both the church and the nation,” he added.

Church seeks return of mission schools
On education, the bishop renewed the call for governments to return mission schools to their original owners, arguing that churches were better positioned to manage them and restore discipline and moral values.

He lamented the rising cases of cultism and other social vices among young people, attributing the trend partly to the erosion of moral and religious instruction in schools.

“When religious values were removed from schools, we created a vacuum. Today, cultism has spread from universities to secondary schools and even primary schools. This should not be so,” he said.

He maintained that church-owned schools were delivering quality education alongside moral instruction, insisting that education should not be treated solely as a commercial venture.

“Our schools are producing excellent academic results without compromising character. Education is not just about examination scores; it is also about raising responsible citizens,” he said.

The bishop appealed to governments at all levels to invest more in teacher development, particularly in digital education, while encouraging communities and private organisations to play greater roles in supporting schools.

He argued that sustainable education requires collaboration among government, parents, communities and faith-based organisations rather than relying solely on public funding.

On national development, the cleric urged Nigerians to support policies capable of strengthening regional security architecture, including state policing where necessary, stressing that collective action remained essential to addressing the country’s security challenges.