“Get a Walking Stick!” – Pastor David Ibiyeomie Urges Christians to Defend Themselves Amid Northern Insecurity

By Babatunji Wusu

The Founder of Salvation Ministries, Pastor David Ibiyeomie, has sparked intense debate following a provocative sermon addressing the surge of insecurity and the targeted killings of Christians in Northern Nigeria. Speaking from the pulpit, the renowned cleric expressed deep frustration over the country’s current trajectory, contrasting Nigeria’s internal strife with the technological strides being made by global powers.

“See, they are going to space; I saw it yesterday,” Ibiyeomie remarked. “Nigeria is busy kidnapping. We are busy killing Christians in the north… genocide in the north. When the world is thinking of how to go to space, Nigeria is busy killing people.”

The cleric’s comments come at a time of heightened tension across the federation, following recent reports of insurgent attacks on military formations and civilian communities. Pastor Ibiyeomie argued that silence is no longer a viable option for the victims of violence, urging those in high-risk areas to “wake up from their slumber.”

In a move that many have interpreted as a call to self-defense, Ibiyeomie cited the resilience of Israel as a blueprint for survival. He suggested that if the government is unable to fulfill its primary duty of protecting citizens, the people must take responsibility for their own safety.

“Israel is a small nation. They didn’t allow Arabs to kill them,” he said. “Stop waiting for others. If the government cannot defend you, defend yourself… Israel didn’t wait for anybody; they defended themselves.”

Concluding his message with a symbolic and practical directive, he repeatedly urged his congregation to “Get a walking stick!” The phrase, widely understood in this context as a metaphor for being prepared or armed for protection, has since trended across social media platforms, drawing both support from those weary of insecurity and caution from those wary of retaliatory violence.

As the security situation continues to dominate the national conversation, Ibiyeomie’s “walking stick” charge highlights a growing lack of confidence in the formal security architecture to protect vulnerable populations in the North.

Do you believe that religious leaders should be encouraging their followers to take up self-defense, or does this risk further escalating communal tensions?

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