Nigeria Will Never Be Islamised”: Bishop Oyedepo Reacts to U.S. Airstrikes in Sokoto

Bishop David Oyedepo, the founder of Living Faith Church Worldwide, has declared that any agenda to Islamise Nigeria is "dead and buried." Speaking during a sermon at the church’s headquarters in Ota, Ogun State, the clergyman expressed overwhelming joy over what he described as the "faithfulness of God" regarding the nation’s security.

The Bishop’s comments follow the recent Christmas Day airstrikes conducted by the United States military against a terrorist enclave in Sokoto State. Oyedepo linked the sudden increase in international intervention to divine timing, noting that he had previously received a spiritual assurance that God had "stepped in" to end the era of terrorism and persecution in Nigeria. "For the first time in nearly 20 years, the persecutors are smelling," Oyedepo remarked. He emphasized that his declaration was not a new stance but a reaffirmation of his long-standing position that Nigeria’s secular identity remains intact. He suggested that foreign interest in Nigeria's counter-terrorism efforts began to surge only after spiritual decrees were made. Concluding his message, the Bishop told the congregation that the "battle is won" and urged them to celebrate the turning tide in the nation's fight against violent extremism. His statement adds a religious dimension to the ongoing national conversation surrounding foreign military involvement on Nigerian soil.