The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Benue State chapter, has marked this year’s Global Pentecost Day with a renewed call on government to take decisive action to end insecurity, stop the unprovoked killing of Christians, and restore peace in the country, particularly in Benue State, which it described as the worst hit by terrorist activities.
Speaking at 2026 Pentecost service, held at the Living Faith Church headquarters in Makurdi, with the theme “The Consuming Fire.”, the National President of PFN, Bishop Francis Wale Oke, represented by Bishop Timothy Kume, Chairman of PFN Benue State, described the current situation in which Christians are unprovokedly attacked and gruesomely massacred as unacceptable. Citing the killings in Yelwata and the recent beheading of a mathematics teacher, Mr. Michael Oyedokun in Oyo State, he said these incidents are further evidence that Nigeria is no longer safe. He urged Christians worldwide to fast and pray for the liberation of Nigeria and the survival of Christianity in the country.
Bishop Wale Oke stressed that the level of banditry, kidnapping, violence, insecurity, and savage killings across the country is intolerable. He noted that several Chibok girls remain in Boko Haram captivity, citing Leah Sharibu as still held by terrorists, while Deborah Samuel was burnt to death in Sokoto State by a murderous mob. He said these are clear examples of religious intolerance and indices of the insecurity plaguing the country.
He stated that Taraba, Plateau, Benue, Southern Kaduna, Edo, Kogi, Ondo, and now Kwara State have all become killing fields, with communities sacked by rampaging terrorists wielding sophisticated arms and other dangerous weapons. “We are burdened by the loss of our sense of humanity and the unchecked activities of Boko Haram, bandits, and murderous herdsmen hiding under the guise of the noble religion of Islam to perpetrate heinous violence against peaceful Nigerians, while the Nigerian state does nothing,” he emphasized.
He called on every Nigerian to cry out to God for divine intervention and urged government to take immediate and effective action. He lamented the lack of political will to crush these evils, saying government has allowed them to spread unchecked with empty promises that achieve nothing. He criticized the “rehabilitation of so-called repentant terrorists into the military” while generals are being slaughtered, saying Nigeria’s security system has been fatally compromised. The President of PFN urged the federal government to fulfill its constitutional and moral responsibility of protecting every citizen, irrespective of tribe or religion, and to seek assistance from the international community before it is too late.
Bishop Oke appealed to all Christians in Nigeria, regardless of denomination, to stand together in unity against the evil ravaging the country, cry out to God for intervention, and speak with one voice so loudly that government at all levels feels the pain and sorrow and moves decisively to stop the evil and defend the faith and the Church.
In his speech, Bishop Timothy Kume, Chairman of PFN Benue State, reiterated the resolve of Christians across the country, particularly in Benue State, to continue praying until their prayers are answered. He said the only way for evil to prevail is for those who know the truth to remain silent. He noted that the Church has been silent for too long, but now is the time to speak. He described the Pentecost service as a moment strictly for prayer, not preaching, and prayed that consuming fire would consume the enemies of Nigeria, in line with the theme of the day.
In his welcome address, Pastor Femi Adejumo, host and pastor in charge of Living Faith Church in Makurdi, described insecurity in Benue State as horrific, especially the Yelwata massacre, and called on Christians to speak out until the evils in the country are defeated. “We are here to stand in the gap to pray and intercede for the Church and Nigeria, not to apportion blame,” he said. He thanked PFN Benue State for choosing Living Faith Church for this year’s Global Pentecost service and prayed for answered prayers.
Those who led prayers during the service, citing various portions of the Bible to invoke God’s intervention, included: Bishop Timothy Kume, Chairman PFN Benue State; Evang. George Agbo of MOTEM, who prayed for the leaders of the country; Rev. Ezenokhome, who prayed against insecurity in the country; Evang. Sunday Okafor, who prayed for the conduct of peaceful elections; and Pastor Hassan Adeniyi of Deeper Life Bible Church, who prayed for the body of Christ in Nigeria and Benue State in particular. Bishop Mike Angor prayed for financial breakthrough and open doors for members to contribute to the work of God. Others included Theophilus Nimyel, who prayed for revival and healing of the land, and Bishop Ubah Udenyi of Hope Alive Assembly, who brought the service to a close.
The occasion also featured a peaceful protest within the premises of Living Faith Church, where members displayed placards with inscriptions such as: _End Insecurity Now, Stop the Genocide Now, Stop Killing Christians #StopTheGenocide.Others read: Stop the Persecution of Christians #ProtectTheInnocent.
