Security Analysis & Religious Perspective
By Patience Aliyu, with Expert Context
Jos, Dec. 19, 2025 – In a statement that captures the complex duality of Nigeria’s security landscape—measured progress against a backdrop of profound suffering—the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) has offered a qualified commendation of the Federal Government’s recent counter-insurgency operations. The church’s leadership, while acknowledging tactical improvements, simultaneously presented stark data on the devastating human and economic cost borne by its own communities, framing the crisis in both national and deeply personal terms.
Rev. Ayuba Asheshe, the General Secretary of ECWA, articulated this nuanced position during a news conference in Jos. His remarks provide a critical, on-the-ground assessment from an institution with a vast network across Nigeria’s most affected regions.
Acknowledging Strategic Shifts and Operational Gains
Asheshe specifically highlighted recent military and police operations against bandits and terrorists, noting they represent a potential turning point. “The improved presence of security personnel in some flashpoints is a necessary step to ensure safety of lives and property,” he stated. This point underscores a basic counter-insurgency principle: establishing a persistent security presence to deny militants freedom of movement and rebuild public trust.
Beyond boots on the ground, the ECWA Secretary lauded enhanced intelligence gathering. This is a critical, often overlooked component. Effective intelligence—whether through technological means, human sources, or community cooperation—is what transforms static defense into proactive, precision strikes against militant networks. Asheshe’s mention suggests these mechanisms may be improving.
He reserved particular praise for President Bola Tinubu’s “demonstration of deep political will.” In conflicts like Nigeria’s, political resolve is the bedrock upon which military strategy is built. It dictates resource allocation, inter-agency coordination, and long-term policy. Asheshe’s comment implies a perception that the current administration is prioritizing the crisis with a seriousness that may have been lacking.
“These measures, though still at the early stages,” Asheshe cautioned, “reflect a commendable shift towards protecting the sanctity of human life, upholding justice and restoring confidence in the government to defend its citizens.” The phrase “early stages” is a significant qualifier, indicating hope tempered by the reality that sustained effort over years is required to dismantle entrenched threats.
The Stark Reality: A Congregation Under Siege
The commendation was immediately followed by a sobering inventory of loss, moving the narrative from abstract policy to tangible human tragedy. Asheshe revealed that 208 ECWA members were abducted for ransom between 2023 and 2024 alone. This figure, likely representing only reported cases, illustrates how kidnapping has evolved from a sporadic crime into a widespread, systematized industry fueling the conflict’s economy.
The destruction was not limited to people. “Many of our local churches were razed,” Asheshe reported, adding, “our members can’t go there to worship for fear of being attacked.” This attacks the core of community life and religious freedom. Churches often serve as community hubs; their destruction is both a symbolic and practical blow to social cohesion and resilience.
Perhaps the most impactful point connected personal suffering to national crisis: “Their farms and means of livelihoods have been destroyed and by extension, affecting the economy of the nation.” This succinctly explains the vicious cycle of insecurity. Attacks on farmers drive food insecurity and inflation, create internally displaced persons (IDPs), and shrink the tax base, thereby weakening the state’s capacity to respond—a feedback loop that benefits insurgents.
Analysis: A Call for Sustained, Holistic Action
ECWA’s statement is not a simple endorsement. It is a sophisticated plea from a critical stakeholder. It follows a pattern of: Acknowledge Progress → Detail the Unacceptable Cost → Call for Continued Support. By commending the government, ECWA seeks to encourage current strategies. By detailing its wounds, it demands that the human cost remains central to the policy conversation. The church, representing millions, positions itself as both a partner and a petitioner.
Asheshe’s concluding advice for Nigerians to “support the government and the security agencies towards a more secure and tranquil nation” is a call for national unity. It recognizes that security is not solely a government mandate but requires citizen cooperation, information sharing, and collective resilience against the forces of division and fear.
Ultimately, this statement from ECWA provides a valuable benchmark. The government’s efforts are being watched and judged by those in the crosshairs. Measurable progress will not be found in press releases alone, but in a future where churches can be rebuilt, farms replanted, and worshippers gather without fear—the very outcomes ECWA implicitly demands.
(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
PAM/AZA
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Edited by Polycarp Auta | Context and analysis expanded by Subject Matter Expert.
