Primate Ayodele Calls for Spiritual Intelligence in Nigeria’s Security Strategy

Primate Elijah Ayodele, leader of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, has renewed his call for the Nigerian government and security agencies to incorporate what he describes as “spiritual

Ayodele, who has for years spoken about the need for a platform where religious leaders with claimed prophetic insight could provide early warnings to security agencies, argued that such intelligence could complement conventional security reports in preventing attacks and other threats.

The cleric had previously called for the establishment of a Department of Spiritual Intelligence, arguing that credible religious leaders could provide advance warnings about potential security threats and assist authorities in taking preventive measures.

According to Ayodele, the idea is not intended to replace conventional intelligence gathering by agencies such as the Department of State Services (DSS), the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) or the police, but to provide an additional layer of information that could help authorities anticipate threats.

He has maintained that several of his previous warnings concerning Nigeria and other countries subsequently corresponded with events that occurred, which he believes demonstrates the usefulness of what he calls spiritual intelligence.

Ayodele’s warnings on Tinubu’s government

One of the examples highlighted by the cleric and his media team is his warning concerning a possible unconstitutional attempt to remove President Bola Ahmed Tinubu from office.

In 2025, Ayodele warned that Tinubu could face a coup-like situation and alleged that some military officers could be involved. He urged the President to take his personal security seriously and review the security arrangements around him. Similar warnings were subsequently published by Nigerian media outlets.

The cleric has also repeatedly warned of political pressure on Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election, including what he described as possible opposition from sections of the international community.

In one of his more recent warnings, Ayodele claimed that the United States, United Kingdom and European Union could become obstacles to Tinubu’s re-election bid.

His position on the United States has also featured prominently in his recent messages, with the cleric maintaining that Washington could play a significant role in the political challenges confronting the Tinubu administration ahead of 2027.

Kidnapping and insecurity

Ayodele has equally made several warnings about the worsening security situation in Nigeria, particularly kidnapping.

He has previously predicted that kidnapping would assume a new dimension and warned that prominent Nigerians could become victims.

His supporters have cited subsequent kidnapping incidents involving students, politicians, traditional rulers and other prominent individuals as examples of events they believe validate the cleric’s warnings.

For Ayodele, the argument is that security agencies should not wait until an incident occurs before responding. Instead, he believes that information from conventional intelligence channels should be complemented with warnings from religious figures who claim to receive advance revelations.

International warnings

The cleric’s claims have not been limited to Nigeria.

Ayodele has issued predictions concerning countries including Iran, Niger and Kenya, as well as warnings relating to international political and security developments.

In Kenya, for instance, he warned in June 2026 that the country should pray against a possible plane disaster. Following a helicopter crash in Samburu County in August that killed seven people, including five Americans, Kenyan media reported that Ayodele’s earlier warning had resurfaced.

His supporters have consequently presented the incident as another example of what they consider the predictive value of his spiritual warnings.

Ayodele has also made several predictions concerning the Iran-US conflict and the possibility of attacks against Iran. Reports have documented some of his statements concerning the conflict, although, as with prophetic predictions generally, the interpretation of whether subsequent events constitute fulfilment remains a matter of debate.

‘Spiritual intelligence should complement security reports’

The central argument being advanced by Ayodele is that Nigeria should broaden its approach to intelligence gathering.

Rather than relying exclusively on conventional security reports, he believes government should create a structured mechanism through which information from credible religious leaders could be assessed alongside intelligence obtained through established security channels.

For the cleric, such a system could potentially provide authorities with additional warnings about terrorism, kidnapping, political instability, attacks and other threats before they occur.

His position has, however, generated mixed reactions, with critics questioning the reliability and verifiability of prophetic claims, while his supporters argue that some of his past warnings corresponded with subsequent events.

Ultimately, the debate raises a broader question about whether governments should explore unconventional sources of early-warning information while maintaining the professional standards and verification processes required in national security.

For Ayodele, the answer is clear: spiritual intelligence should not replace conventional security intelligence, but it should be given a place alongside it.