Presiding Bishop of Living Faith Church Worldwide, David Oyedepo, has reissued a stark 15-year-old warning about Nigeria’s worsening insecurity, following a series of recent church attacks that left several worshippers dead and others abducted.
Speaking on Sunday during the 4th Pre-Shiloh Encounter Service, Oyedepo expressed grave concern over the nation’s deteriorating security climate. He described developments in the past two weeks as “worrisome to say the least,” insisting that immediate and concerted prayers are needed to halt the killings.
“You can’t trade people’s lives for your comfort,” he said. “All the innocent blood spilled is crying out for vengeance… and all the perpetrators will pay with their lives.”
Reaffirming his deep ties to Nigeria, Oyedepo declared, “No one is more Nigerian than myself. We all have our ancestral grounds. Power may pass power, but no power surpasses the power of God.”
He urged members of the church to embark on midnight prayers, warning of looming chaos if action is not taken. “Every member of this church should be awake one hour before violence descends into anarchy. A church was invaded during worship, people were killed and abducted, and nothing happened? The God of justice is rising.”
Citing Genesis 12:3, he explained why prayers would be directed against those he described as wicked. He emphasized that Nigeria carries a divine identity and insisted that “every arrogance will be cut down” once God intervenes.
Quoting Psalm 85:8, Oyedepo noted that God’s voice brings peace and said he had been declaring these warnings for the past 15 years. “He has prompted me to speak again,” he said.
Condemning the continued acts of terrorism, kidnapping, and violence across the country, the cleric announced a focused night prayer session. “We are raiding the camp of the wicked. All Winners should anoint their houses. Every attack against the church will be met with divine justice. Don’t politicise human life; it is immoral.”
He urged all members to unite in prayer from 12 a.m. to 1 a.m., declaring it a crucial step in seeking justice and securing peace for the nation.