The Catholic Bishop of Ondo Diocese, Jude Arogundade, has demanded the immediate resignation of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, over his controversial remarks likening activities of terrorists in Nigeria’s North-East to the biblical ‘prodigal son.’

Mr Arogundade described the comparison as “insensitive and deeply troubling,’ particularly given the continued violent attacks by insurgents in the region.

The cleric spoke shortly after a Palm Sunday Mass at the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Akure, the state capital. 

“The person (Chief of Defence Staff) who is supposed to preside over the security of Nigeria just said last week that these terrorists are prodigals. My goodness, how do you minimise the enormity of what these guys have done against this country,” he queried. 

Mr Arogundade stressed that the biblical prodigal son did not commit murder or seize property violently, pointing out that “41 people in his diocese” had recently been killed. 

The cleric noted that the terrorists troubling Nigeria had declared war against the country and its citizens. 

“They (terrorists) have practically declared war against Nigeria and its government and all the law-abiding citizens of this country. And you call them prodigal sons? Prodigal son in the bible didn’t kill his father, neither did he kill his brother to take over the property. Prodigal son went, he lost everything, and he was caring for the swine. 

“He didn’t kill the owner of the swine to take over everything. So please, in a civilised country, that man should resign. What kind of nonsense is that? We lost 41 people here in my diocese, and those who killed them are prodigal sons?.”

Mr Arogundade urged Mr Oluyede to step down, maintaining that leadership in the country’s security architecture must reflect sensitivity, clarity, and a firm stance against acts of terror.

He argued that equating perpetrators of mass violence with a figure symbolising repentance and forgiveness undermines the gravity of their actions and the suffering of victims. 

According to him, such remarks from a top military official risk sending the wrong message about accountability and justice in the fight against terrorism.

He stated, “I don’t think this country is serious. We Nigerians say they don’t know what is going on. It’s getting to that time that we have to ask the obvious question.”

Mr Arogundade was responding to a comment by Mr Oluyede at the Armed Forces inaugural lecture for the newly established Joint Doctrine and Warfare Centre (JDWC) in Abuja, where he noted that terrorists deserved rehabilitation because they are citizens. 

“But even in the Bible, we heard about the prodigal son. If there was not that window for the man to come back, would they have come back?” Mr Oluyede said.

“So the point is that these are Nigerians, mostly. And it’s important for us to give them that window to repent, if they want, rather than pushing them to the extreme. To say, okay, ‘It’s either we kill you, or you continue with the adventure.”

The CDS’s comment sparked from Nigerians amid renewed attacks in some parts of Nigeria including Kwara and Kastina states.