Many churches in the country have started taking security measures to protect members against bandit attacks. Reports gathered reveals that while some now install CCTVs on their premises, others have suspended night programmes and vigils for security reasons.
Our correspondents also learnt that many church leaders had started preparing their members for self-defence.
Across some northern states, including Kaduna, Niger, Katsina, Plateau, Zamfara, Benue, Kwara, armed groups have repeatedly struck farming communities, worship centres and travellers in the past few months.
Suspected bandits recently stormed the Christ Apostolic Church, Oke-Isegun, Eruku, Ikere, Kwara State, killing three worshippers and abducting 38 others.
The victims were later released after the Federal Government negotiated with their abductors. This is amid the raging debate on alleged targeted killings of Christians in the country.
Speaking in separate interviews with our correspondents, some leaders of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria said churches had started taking proactive measures.
The Benue State CAN Vice Chairman, Rev. Jonathan Ugbede, said the association had sent messages to churches across the state, placing members on heightened alert.
The CAN leader said, “We’ve sent messages to churches asking them to be vigilant and report suspicious movement immediately to security operatives. It’s not in our power to arm people to defend themselves.”
Speaking in a similar vein, the CAN Chairman for Gombe State, Rev. Fr. Joseph Shinga, urged Christians in the state to remain vigilant.
Shinga, in a telephone interview with reporters, said, “As you know, we are in a difficult time in this country, but I will insist on the need for everyone to watch and pray. They should verify every piece of information instead of jumping at them.”
The CAN Chairman for Ekiti State, Rev. Emmanuel Aribasoye, said Christian leaders in the state were already taking proactive steps to ensure security at places of worship.
He said, “To prevent the incursion of banditry into the state, we are praying and working closely with the security chiefs in the state, and the slogan of the church is that you see something, you say something.”
Aribasoye noted that the CAN leadership in the state had instructed churches in border communities to suspend vigil in the interim.
“We have also given instruction that if there is any special programme, they should talk with us and we will talk with the security agencies,” the CAN chairman added.
Church Leaders Push for Vigilance and Self-Defence Measures
A former President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Rev Felix Omobude, noted that there was no law barring people from protecting themselves.
He said, “I would be naive to say that you should not protect yourself. We have had a similar situation from Nehemiah in the Bible when they faced such a threat. Then some people worked, and some people protected others. So, every church or organisation must at this stage be security-conscious.”
“We make efforts to safeguard ourselves. I mean most of our services; we secure the services of law enforcement agents. We do that.”
The Ondo State chapter of PFN called on its members to guard against any form of security breaches in and around the churches.
The state Chairman of PFN, Pastor Joshua Opayinka, who spoke to reporters, said, “We are taking various security measures; we have communicated to our members across the state to be vigilant. We asked them to install CCTV inside and outside the churches.
“We asked them to, whoever can afford it, get police men around whenever they have programmes, and any new member or strange faces who join the congregation should be well scrutinised and monitored.”
Similarly, the Senior Pastor of the Jesus The Light Assembly, Mathew Adiele, said the church had been taking measures to protect members, particularly during day and night programmes.
He said, “We have CCTV in the church, we hire guards, and we also talk to our people to always be security conscious.”
Adiele urged the state and the Federal Government to invest more in security of lives and property, establishing state and local government security agencies.
‘Self-defence, right of all’
According to the northern CAN Chairman, Rev. Joseph John Hayab, self-defence is a natural right that no citizen should be denied, especially amid renewed violent attacks ravaging communities across the North.
Speaking to reporters, Hayab said northern Christians and other vulnerable groups were increasingly worried that promises of improved security had not translated into safety and security.
He said citizens who were consistently exposed to attacks could not be faulted for exploring legitimate self-protection measures when the state failed to shield them.
“The Northern Christians Association believes that self-defence is a natural right; therefore, we have no reason to make it a subject of debate,” he said.
The CAN leader noted that while faith leaders preach peace and restraint, there is a limit to what unarmed citizens can endure when armed attackers repeatedly invade communities, kidnap residents, torch homes or kill farmers on their lands.
He warned that insecurity had reached a troubling stage where many now fear travelling, attending gatherings or sleeping peacefully at night. …Punchng.com
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