Kogi advises relocation of worship centres after fresh church invasion

The Kogi State government has advised worship centers in attack-prone areas to consider relocating because of insecurity.

This followed the attack on a Cherubim and Seraphim Church in Ejiba, Yagba West Local Government Area of the state, on Sunday.

Gunmen had broken into the church during early morning service, abducting the pastor, his wife, and other worshipers.

This is the first major attack on a church after the abduction at Christ Apostolic Church, Eruku in Kwara State.

Reacting to the abduction, Kingsley Fanwo, Commissioner for Information, said, “Worship Centres in the outskirts should also reconsider worshipping in crime-prone areas for now until the situation gets better.

“Worshipping in the bush without security in this era, just a few weeks after worshippers were abducted from a church in Kwara State, to me is not ideal.

“We all need to be security conscious at this time. We also need to volunteer intelligence.”

He added that security operatives were working to ensure a successful rescue of those abducted.

“I am also aware that the security network, comprising the conventional security agencies and the local security architecture are currently doing what they should do. We have no figures yet as we await security agencies to carry out their findings and report back to the public.

“We urge the citizens to be security-conscious and also report suspicious movements and faces to security agencies. When you see something, say something.”

The attack happened three days after Governor Usman Ahmed Ododo said bandits’ commanders had relocated to Kogi in an attempt to intensify attacks.

The governor had said the government and security agencies would take the fight to their hideouts.

He noted that certain measures had been taken in the interest of residents, regardless of religious or political affiliation.

“Before now , you will hear of shooting in schools and residents across the world… we have to put heads together to save our people. We have come to brainstorm and see a way out and provide our people with the needed security.

“The major commanders of the bandits have relocated to Kogi state in the last three days but we will not wait for them to fight us; we will take the fight to them.

“We are not going to bow to the criminals, we are not going to negotiate with them ; we are not going to pay ransom, we are going to sensitise our people to be security conscious of their activities,”

The governor added that the State Security Council had resolved that all public activities, be it religious or social, should end by 4pm until further notice.

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