Replacing Service Chiefs Won’t End Insecurity – Enenche Replies Adeboye

Former Coordinator of Defence Media Operations, Major General John Enenche (retd.), has pushed back against calls for the resignation of Nigeria’s Service Chiefs, arguing that replacing military leaders is not the solution to the country’s persistent security challenges.

Enenche made the remarks while reacting to recent comments by the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Enoch Adeboye, who urged the Federal Government to give security chiefs a 90-day ultimatum to eliminate terrorism and other forms of insecurity or step down from office.

The respected cleric had, in a video shared on social media platform X, expressed concern over the continued wave of killings, kidnappings, and terrorist activities across the country. He called on the government to hold security leaders accountable by setting a definite timeline for measurable results in the fight against insecurity.

However, speaking during an interview on Arise Television on Tuesday, Enenche maintained that the security crisis facing Nigeria is far more complex than simply changing the leadership of the armed forces.

According to the retired general, frequent changes in military leadership would not automatically translate into improved security outcomes, stressing that the nation’s security challenges require a more strategic and sustained approach.

“So, we have it, and that is why I’m happy because people may be thinking the service chiefs are not working. I can tell you, if you change service chiefs every six months or every year, it is not the solution at all,” he said.

Enenche argued that the fight against insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, and other security threats requires continuity, coordination, and long-term planning rather than constant leadership changes.

He emphasized that national security should remain a matter of collective concern, urging Nigerians to take the issue seriously and support efforts aimed at restoring peace and stability across the country.

“I don’t joke with security at all, and I encourage every other person to do the same. We must treat this issue with the seriousness it deserves,” he stated.

The retired military officer further warned that failure to decisively address insecurity could allow the problem to persist across successive administrations, making it more difficult to achieve lasting peace.

“It is not beyond what we should do, because if we fail to act now, the problem will continue to roll over from one administration to another, and that must stop,” he added.

Nigeria has continued to battle various security threats, including terrorism in the North-East, banditry in parts of the North-West and North-Central, as well as kidnapping and violent crimes in several regions of the country.

The debate over the effectiveness of the nation’s security architecture has intensified in recent months, with many Nigerians calling for stronger measures to tackle insecurity, while others argue that structural reforms, improved intelligence gathering, and enhanced collaboration among security agencies are more important than changing personnel at the top.

Enenche’s comments add another perspective to the ongoing national conversation on how best to address one of Nigeria’s most pressing challenges.