President Bola Tinubu urged Nigerian religious leaders and clerics to publicly denounce banditry, terrorism, kidnapping, and bigotry on Sunday [1, 2].

The appeal comes as the Nigerian government seeks to mobilize social and spiritual influence to combat rising insecurity, particularly in the country's northeastern region, where militant activity remains a persistent threat [3, 4].

Addressing leaders in Abuja, the president said that religious figures must use their platforms to speak out against the violence. He said that the fight against extremism requires a unified front that extends beyond military operations to include moral and community leadership [1, 2].

Tinubu specifically called upon six northeastern states to increase their efforts in the fight against terrorism and banditry [5]. The region has long been a focal point for insurgent activity, and the president said that more aggressive action is needed from local authorities and community pillars to stabilize the area [5].

This call for civic action coincides with ongoing kinetic operations by the Nigerian Air Force. In a recent strike in Borno, the military reported killing nine militants [1]. The casualties included one ISWAP commander and eight other extremists [1].

The president said that bigotry and sectarian divisions often fuel the instability that terrorists exploit. By urging clerics to condemn these behaviors, the administration aims to reduce the social fractures that allow extremist ideologies to take root in vulnerable populations [1, 2].

The push for religious leaders to intervene suggests a strategy of integrating psychological and social warfare with traditional security measures to isolate militant groups from their potential support bases [3, 4].

“President Bola Tinubu urged Nigerian religious leaders and clerics to publicly denounce banditry, terrorism, kidnapping, and bigotry.”

This move signals a shift toward a 'whole-of-society' approach to security in Nigeria. By leveraging the high level of trust citizens place in religious leaders, the Tinubu administration is attempting to delegitimize extremist groups socially and morally, complementing the military's tactical strikes in the northeast.