By ‘Gbemiga Olakunle
“Thus says the Lord: ‘A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping; Rachel weeping for her children, refusing to be comforted for her children, because they are no more.’
Thus says the Lord: ‘Refrain your voice from weeping, and your eyes from tears, for your work shall be rewarded, says the Lord, and they shall come again from the land of the enemy.
And there is hope in your future, says the Lord, that your children shall come again to their own border.’” Jeremiah 31:15-17 KJV
The prophetic declaration above by Prophet Jeremiah is still applicable to the security crisis this nation is currently undergoing, especially at the hands of various terrorist and banditry groups.
Nonetheless, our victory is assured. God has not left us hopeless, as recorded in verse 17 of the Scripture quoted above.
There is no doubt that the self-inflicted, widespread, and prevalent crises we find ourselves in today may be due to the lackadaisical attitude of our politicians and other top government functionaries pursuing selfish purposes, and for other reasons best known to them.
Innocent citizens all over the country are in captivity. Some are being assaulted, molested, and even killed by these rampaging violent forces.
Let us therefore pray and fast for the safe return of these victims, especially for the kidnapped Oyo school students with their teachers. We pray for safe rescue operations without any injury or fatal incident sustained by the abductees or their rescuers/security agents.
It is even possible that the kidnappers may have a change of heart and surrender, releasing their victims unconditionally. For with God, “nothing shall be impossible” — Luke 1:37 KJV.
We can therefore use Psalm 68:30, Psalm 94:1-11, and Psalm 109:1-21 KJV to intercede fervently for these victims being held within Oyo National Park and elsewhere within the borders of our dear country, Nigeria.
Furthermore, let us ask God for the forgiveness of our sins as individuals, communities, and as a nation. Let us beseech God to behold us and our land with the eyes of His mercy and heal our land.
In addition, let us ask God to expose and uproot the principalities, powers, and personalities that may be supporting any acts of terrorism in Nigeria. Let us ask God to disgrace them and cast them down from their thrones, in Jesus’ Name.
Lastly, after uprooting these evil personalities, let us ask God to give us leaders like Ezra and Nehemiah whom God will use to rebuild the broken walls of Nigeria as soon as possible, in Jesus’ Name.
And in doing so, let us pray that we and our family members will eat the good fruits of the land, and that the ongoing crises will not consume any of us, the intercessors, and our respective families, in Jesus’ Name.
SHALOM!
‘Gbemiga OLAKUNLE, JP
17th June, 2026
