Founder of Living Faith Church Worldwide, Bishop David Oyedepo
General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, and the founder of Living Faith Church Worldwide, Bishop David Oyedepo, have asked for stronger U.S. collaboration with Nigeria to combat terrorism.
The clerics spoke during the 2026 Faith Defender Award Gala organised by Save Nigeria Group USA in partnership with the U.S.-Nigeria Civil Society Coalition at the Hilton Garden Inn on Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C.
At the event, United States President, Donald Trump, received the 2026 Faith Defender Award in recognition of what the organisers described as his administration’s commitment to promoting religious freedom and combating terrorism affecting vulnerable communities around the world.
The event brought together U.S. lawmakers, international human rights advocates, some Nigerians in the diaspora and other prominent Nigerian Christian leaders.
A statement issued by the Save Nigeria Group USA yesterday, signed by its President, Stephen Osemwegie; Media Director, Victor Onyeka-Ben; Director of Strategy and Diaspora Engagement, David Adenekan, and Public Relations Director, Autumn Miller, quoted Adeboye as urging the U.S. and its allies, including Britain and Australia, to intensify efforts aimed at supporting Nigeria in tackling extremist violence.
Adeboye noted that insecurity had spread beyond Nigeria’s northern region, adding that the crisis had moved “to my doorstep.”
In a keynote address, Oyedepo described Nigeria as “virtually at the brink of collapse” due to persistent insecurity and terrorism.
“My heart bleeds,” Oyedepo said, expressing support for proposed U.S. congressional legislation aimed at strengthening accountability for terrorism-related atrocities in Nigeria.
He welcomed increasing U.S. engagement on issues of religious freedom and security, expressing hope for a peaceful and prosperous Nigeria.
Former U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, Sam Brownback, also warned that Nigeria faced the risk of violent civil unrest if insecurity was not decisively addressed.
Human rights advocate, Dr Katrina Swett, similarly called for stronger U.S. involvement in supporting victims of extremist violence and protecting religious freedom in Nigeria.
