Controversy trails David Oyedepo’s bold claim of spiritual authority over kidnappers

Founder of Living Faith Church Worldwide, David Oyedepo, has stirred fresh controversy after asking members to hand his phone number to abductors if they are kidnapped.

He said he possesses the spiritual authority to secure their release.
Speaking during a service at Canaanland, the cleric urged worshippers not to panic in the face of abduction but instead direct kidnappers to contact him.
“If anybody picks you, give them my number,” he told the congregation in a sermon that later circulated widely on social media.
The remark, delivered during a message tagged #SupersonicSunday, quickly gained traction online, drawing attention amid ongoing concerns over kidnapping across Nigeria.
Oyedepo based the unusual instruction on what he described as past interventions involving abducted church members.
Recounting one incident, he said a pastor connected to the church was kidnapped and the abductors permitted communication with him. He claimed he warned them to release the victim or face death within 24 hours, after which the captive was freed.
In another instance, he narrated how a female church member declared while in captivity that she would regain freedom by 7am. He said she was eventually released following what he described as unusual developments among her captors.
The cleric stated that such experiences demonstrate that his members possess spiritual authority over fear and violence.
“You have been raised far above the devil,” he said, encouraging members to confront threats with faith rather than fear.
Oyedepo further maintained that members of the church share the same spiritual force and should learn to exercise it.
His remarks come at a time when kidnapping for ransom remains a major security challenge in parts of Nigeria, with religious leaders, traditional rulers and communities increasingly speaking out on the crisis.
While the sermon was intended as a message of faith and confidence to worshippers, its viral spread has placed it at the centre of public debate on insecurity and the role of religious belief in confronting violent crime.