“Our Security Network Works, but Justice Is Uneven” – Pastor Iren on Nigeria

Pastor Emmanuel Iren has weighed in on the ongoing debate surrounding Nigeria’s security system, describing the nation’s security architecture as “one of the best in the world.”

The cleric’s comments come amid reports of alleged persecution of Christians in Northern Nigeria. Recently, the United States designated Nigeria as a country of particular concern over claims of Christian genocide, a claim the Nigerian government has consistently denied.

According to Pastor Iren, the effectiveness of security services in Nigeria often depends on an individual’s social and financial status. Wealth or influence, he explained, tends to prompt quicker responses from security operatives, whereas the poor and marginalized are often overlooked.

“I think, personal opinion, our security infrastructure is actually one of the best in the world. Let me land and you will agree with me. Be a rich person in trouble. Drop money and see, they will bring the thief for you, am I lying? So maybe the problem is, where the wickedness is happening, the voices there are poor. Maybe it doesn’t matter much to us as much as we pretend,” Pastor Iren said.

He emphasized that the main challenge is not a lack of capacity within the country’s security agencies but the uneven distribution of justice. The voices of the poor, he added, are often ignored, allowing crimes and violence to persist in some regions.