A fiery pastor based in Lagos in Nigeria’s South-West has lambasted elders from the country’s north, accusing them of having an evil agenda, which she says has failed.

“Northern elders, your evil agenda has failed. Your amnesty deal is amnesty of hell fire . . . Satan’s amnesty. Shame,” said Pastor Lovina Iburene of The Truth Ministry while celebrating the declaration of emergency rule in Boko Haram-infested states rather than pursuing the amnesty option favoured by northern leaders.

Iburene in a statement, a copy of which was made available to News Express, hailed President Goodluck Jonathan for finally summoning the courage to decisively take on the Islamic insurgents.

“My brother, President Goodluck Jonathan, well done!” said Pastor Iburene, a bitter critic of the Nigerian leader, who happens to be her kinsman from Bayelsa State in the country’s South-South. “Declaration of state of emergency . . . you have acted as expected. Use this opportunity to wipe out terrorism in Nigeria. Never negotiate with terrorists. I will continue to bless you.”

Speaking in a similar vein, Lovina’s husband, Pastor Enoch Iburene, also of The Truth Ministry, thanked President Jonathan for imposing emergency rule on Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.

“Thanks for declaring a state of emergency. Stand up to the great task of nation building. It is well with you,” he said.

•Photo shows Pastors Lovina and Enoch Iburene.