We cannot look away while Nigerians are being killed and abducted, says Akande
The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has called for a stronger international coalition led by the United States and its allies to help Nigeria confront terrorism, warning that the country’s worsening security crisis now poses a threat far beyond the regions initially affected.
Speaking in Washington, D.C., during the inaugural U.S./Nigeria Faith Heroes Award Gala, Adeboye, who also received a Lifetime Achievement recognition, noted that terrorism had become a personal reality for him and many Nigerians and could no longer be viewed as a distant problem.
“Terrorism is now at my doorstep,” he told an audience comprising religious leaders, US policymakers, Nigerian diplomats, human rights advocates, and members of the Nigerian and American communities.
The cleric, who last week presided over the Annual Convention of the RCCG in America held in Dallas, Texas, urged the United States and other Western nations to deepen their support for Nigeria’s fight against terrorism, insisting that the scale of the challenge had exceeded the capacity of local institutions acting alone.
The event, organised by Save Nigeria Group USA and the U.S.-Nigeria Civil Society Coalition, was held at the Hilton Garden Inn Washington DC/U.S. Capitol under the theme, “Thank You, America. Please Do More.”
Also speaking at the event, Mr. Laolu Akande, former presidential spokesman and host of Inside Sources on Channels TV, explained that “when we call attention to the killings in Nigeria, we don’t do it to make the Nigerian government look bad, no, not at all. We do it because, as human beings, we can’t look away while people are being beheaded and abducted.”
He added that the effort was to “get help from those who might be able to help the Nigerian government and people to end the killings and the violence.”
Akande, who was a co-host at the event, also received an award as Voice of Truth on behalf of Channels TV’s Inside Sources with Laolu Akande programme.
The event, which was well attended, served both as a platform for advocacy against terrorism and religious persecution and as a ceremony honouring individuals and institutions recognised for defending religious freedom, human rights, and justice in Nigeria.
After the event, which was held on Tuesday, a release by leaders of Save Nigeria Group USA and the U.S.-Nigeria Civil Society Coalition, including President Stephen Osemwegie, Media Director Victor Onyeka Ben, and Public Relations Director Autumn Miller, said the gala was designed to rally international support for the fight against terrorism and religious persecution in Nigeria and to honour champions of religious freedom.
Among the most prominent honourees was President Donald J. Trump, who received the Faith Defender 2026 Award in absentia. Organisers said the award recognised his administration’s commitment to religious freedom, counterterrorism efforts, and strategic security cooperation with Nigeria through U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM).
Congressman Christopher Smith received a Lifetime Achievement Award for decades of advocacy on behalf of persecuted communities around the world, while the late Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee was posthumously honoured for her longstanding support for vulnerable populations and engagement with Nigeria. Congressman Riley Moore was also recognised for supporting legislative efforts addressing religious persecution and insecurity in Nigeria.
Adeboye and his wife, Pastor Folu Adeboye, were presented with the Patriarchs of Faith Award in recognition of their contributions to the global Christian faith and humanitarian service. Bishop David Oyedepo, founder of Living Faith Church Worldwide, received the same honour and was represented at the event by Pastor Deji Akin.
Veteran journalist, former presidential spokesman, and host of Inside Sources on Channels Television, Laolu Akande, was among the distinguished recipients honoured at the gala.
Akande received the 2026 Voice of Truth Award for what organisers described as his unwavering commitment to factual and courageous reporting on the persecution of Christians and other vulnerable groups in Nigeria.
According to the award citation, his programme, Inside Sources, has become “a beacon of clarity and a vital platform for the voiceless” at a time when public discourse is increasingly shaped by competing narratives.
Other recipients included Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo and Prophet Isa El Buba, while the Nigerian Armed Forces received the Guardian of Peace and Sacrifice Award for the courage and sacrifices of military personnel engaged in counterterrorism operations. The award was accepted on behalf of the Armed Forces by Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, represented by Commander Orlando Bahaushe.
Returning to the issue that dominated the evening, Adeboye warned that terrorism had intensified despite previous military operations against extremist camps and appealed for greater international involvement.
Drawing from Isaac Newton’s first law of motion, he argued that entrenched interests within Nigeria were hindering efforts to decisively defeat terrorism.
“There are certain people in my country that, I regret to say, are untouchable, and only God can deal with them,” he said.
“If you want to help us, help us more. No matter who is in office in Nigeria, only God can help us. Use your influence to help us.”
Adeboye disclosed that the Redeemed Christian Church of God had established an internally displaced persons camp to support victims of terrorist violence, providing food, shelter, and relief materials. He added that plans were underway to establish a secondary school for displaced children and vocational training programmes for adults.
While acknowledging that victims of terrorism cut across religious lines, Adeboye said Christians had frequently borne the brunt of attacks in many affected communities.
He also rejected suggestions that the administration of President Bola Tinubu was doing nothing to address insecurity, saying the effectiveness of government directives depended largely on implementation by relevant institutions.
The appeal by Adeboye was echoed by Ambassador Sam Brownback, former United States Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, and Dr. Katrina Lantos Swett, co-chair of the International Religious Freedom Summit.
Brownback lamented Nigeria’s continued bloodshed and warned that the country risked severe consequences if terrorists were allowed to gain further ground. He urged stronger cooperation between Nigeria and its international partners to defeat extremist networks.
Swett described Nigeria as a nation of extraordinary people and argued that the United States possessed significant leverage that could be used to support efforts against terrorism and religious persecution.
In his remarks, Stephen Osemwegie, President of Save Nigeria Group USA and Convener of the U.S.-Nigeria Civil Society Coalition, described terrorism in Nigeria as a global security challenge.
“The crisis in Nigeria and across the West African sub-region is not merely a local problem,” Osemwegie said.
“These terrorist groups are globally armed, supported and financed. We need a coalition of freedom-loving nations, led by the United States and its allies, to confront and defeat this threat.”
Representing Nigeria’s Ambassador to the United States, Ambassador Lt. Gen. Lateef Kayode Are (Rtd.), Ambassador Nuradeen Alliyu Biu reaffirmed the commitment of President Bola Tinubu’s administration to strengthening cooperation with the United States in combating terrorism and enhancing bilateral relations.
The gathering also featured renewed calls for the passage of H.R. 7457, the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2025, which supporters believe would strengthen international accountability mechanisms regarding religious persecution in Nigeria.
One of the evening’s most emotional moments came with a tribute to Leah Sharibu, whose continued captivity after refusing to renounce her Christian faith was highlighted as a symbol of resilience and religious conviction.
For organisers, the event was both a celebration of individuals who have championed religious freedom and a renewed appeal for coordinated international action.
For Adeboye, the message was even more direct.
Nigeria, he said, urgently needs help beyond its borders.
“Use your influence to help us,” he concluded.
