The general overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has asked Nigeria’s security chiefs to eliminate terrorists within 90 days or step down.

In a video posted on the church’s X handle on Tuesday, Adeboye urged the Federal Government to act swiftly in addressing the country’s security challenges.

“If I were asked to make suggestions, I would say quietly to our government, move fast. And tell our security chiefs, get rid of these terrorists within 90 days, or resign,” Adeboye said.

The cleric noted that religious leaders can only offer advice to political authorities, and that the final responsibility rests with the commander-in-chief.

Adeboye said he advised late President Muhammadu Buhari who gave security chiefs a similar deadline to tackle Boko Haram, but that the directive was not fully achieved within the timeframe.

In 2021, Buhari ordered the then service chiefs to “take out” bandits, kidnappers, and their sponsors.

The late president said the armed forces should be more proactive rather than reactionary.

Adeboye said the former president acted on the advice by issuing the directive to security chiefs, but failed to enforce it after the deadline elapsed.

“He ran with that advice, but he didn’t follow it through. Because he gave the order as the commander-in-chief of the armed forces.The three months went, and the work was not done,” he said.

The RCCG general overseer said he later questioned the former president over his decision not to act after the deadline passed, but declined to give details of their conversations.

He called on the current government to ensure that any directive given to security chiefs goes beyond neutralising terrorists to also targeting those who finance and support them.

“When giving orders to the service chiefs this time around, we should make it clear to them that they are not only to eliminate the terrorists, they should eliminate their sponsors, no matter how influential they may be,” Adeboye added.

His comments come amid renewed concerns over insecurity across the country, following a series of kidnappings, attacks on communities and abductions of students in recent months.

On May 15, some gunmen attacked two schools in Ogbomoso, Oyo state abducting dozens of pupils and teachers. One of the teacher would later be beheaded in a viral video circulating online.

Following the abduction, President Bola Tinubu directed the deployment of a “specialised security unit with advanced rescue capabilities” to intensify efforts to secure the release pupils and teachers.

The abduction adds to a string of similar incidents recorded across the country in recent months.

A notorious bandit leader, Kachallah Muhammad, has reportedly established communication with relatives of the abducted retired senior military officer, Major General Rabe Abubakar Batsari.

According to reports by Daily Trust, the bandit kingpin, who operates in parts of Katsina State, opened a line of communication with the family of the retired General on Monday morning.

The retired Major General and his wife were reportedly abducted on Saturday in Katsina State.

Their vehicle was ambushed along the Marabar Musawa–Kafinsoli Road in Matazu Local Government Area by gunmen, who, according to witnesses, emerged from hiding, blocked the road and opened fire on the vehicle, forcing it to a halt before abducting the retired officer and his wife into a nearby forest.

The road, according to residents of the area, is unsafe due to repeated bandit attacks.

A senior local government official in Batsari, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to security concerns, confirmed to our correspondent that he personally spoke with the abducted officer during the conversation facilitated by the bandit leader.

“I spoke with Major General Rabe through Kachallah Muhammad. He told us that he is hale and hearty and that his wife is also fine,” the official said.

According to the source, the retired general assured his family and associates that they are being adequately taken care of by their captors, a development that has somewhat eased anxiety among relatives and residents of the area.

The official further disclosed that during the interaction, Kachallah Muhammad made his demands clear, insisting on the release of his relatives, allegedly being held by Nigerian security authorities.

“He said what he wants is the immediate release of his relatives in government custody,” the official added.

The bandit leader, the source said, also expressed willingness to return to negotiations, indicating openness to dialogue aimed at restoring peace in Matazu and other areas under his influence.

“He said he is ready to go back to the negotiation table to achieve peace in Matazu and neighbouring communities,” the official said.

The Federal Government has directed ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) to stop placing civil servants on a mandatory three-month pre-retirement leave.

According to reports, the directive is contained in a circular titled ‘Correct Interpretation of Public Service Rule 120243 on Pre-Retirement Activities’, issued by Didi Walson-Jack, head of the civil service of the federation.

The circular, addressed to ministers, permanent secretaries, service chiefs, heads of agencies, and other senior public officials, said the Public Service Rules (PSR) do not provide for a compulsory three-month leave before retirement.

Walson-Jack said several MDAs had misconstrued the three-month retirement notice period as an automatic leave entitlement, resulting in officers being withdrawn from service before their official retirement dates.

According to her, Rule 120243 only requires officers approaching retirement to give three months’ notice, attend a one-month pre-retirement workshop or seminar, and use the remaining period to reconcile service records and complete pension documentation.

“The so-called mandatory three-month pre-retirement leave has no basis in the Public Service Rules,” the circular reads.

“A retiring officer must give three months’ notice before the effective date of retirement. This is a notice requirement, not a leave entitlement.”

Walson-Jack noted that officers remain in active service throughout the notice period and are expected to continue performing their official duties unless they are attending an approved pre-retirement programme or are absent under existing leave provisions.

“PSR 120243 does not exempt retiring officers from official duties during the notice period, except where they are attending an approved pre-retirement workshop or seminar, or are otherwise authorised to be absent under extant leave rules,” Walson-Jack was quoted in the circular as saying.

She directed all MDAs to stop compelling retiring officers to vacate their positions before their official retirement dates.

Under the new directive, retiring officers are to continue discharging their responsibilities while participating in approved retirement programmes and completing all documentation required for pension processing.

The head of service said the move is aimed at ensuring uniform implementation of the Public Service Rules across government institutions and preventing the loss of experienced personnel through premature disengagement.

The circular also directed permanent secretaries, directors-general, executive secretaries, chairpersons of statutory agencies, and chief executives of government organisations to ensure strict compliance.

The federal civil service retirement framework, governed by the Public Service Rules and the Pension Reform Act, requires officers to retire after 35 years of service or upon attaining the age of 60 years, whichever comes first.

The government said the clarification would help improve service delivery by allowing retiring officers to continue contributing their expertise until their official exit dates while completing the administrative processes required for retirement benefits.