Spiritual battle also needed to end insecurity – Adeboye

The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has said a combination of physical and spiritual battle is needed to end insecurity in Nigeria.

The cleric spoke on Thursday in Borno when he paid a visit to the deputy governor of the state, Usman Kadafur.

The octogenarian said on arriving in the state, he led worshippers “to seek the face of God over the state of security and other challenges facing the country”.

He said “spiritual” intervention is needed alongside the current anti-terrorism efforts in order to defeat Boko Haram and other extremist groups threatening Nigeria’s peace and security.

“A combination of physical and spiritual battle had become necessary to end the menace.

“There are problems that you cannot solve with just human ability. It takes God to get some of these bandits to get to surrender, because even if you offer them everything, some of them may still turn their back and go back to what they were initially doing.

“We have come to pray on the land. My congregation and I have been praying. I believe God wants me to step on the land and cry and pray for the land and we have been praying since Wednesday,” the News Agency of Nigeria quoted him as saying.

Adeboye said before the insurgency in Borno started, the state was one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria.

He said, “I remember in those days, anyone could go to anywhere here at any time of the day and night.

”I was particularly touched when the Boko Haram crisis erupted. There are problems that you cannot solve with just human ability; it takes God’s intervention.”

Reacting, the deputy governor acknowledged the support of Adeboye and other Christian faithful.

He agreed with Adeboye that there is a need to fervently seek the intervention of God to end insurgency which has lasted for over 10 years.

“We are happy that men of God like you are visiting our state to pray so that God can forgive us and restore peace,” he added.