FEATURES

Attacks on Nigerian Churches in the recent times demands security consciousness

By Kelvin Ohoror, Evi precious and young Enifome

In the past and contemporary times, churches had always been regarded and seen as a place of refuge and sacred place where individuals shows reverence, but, however, due to Liberal nature of Christianity in recent times, those values had been taken for granted.

Today churches has suffered a lot of degradation molestation and harassment resulting from attacks by armed robbers and inter- religious clash leading to burglary and arson. It is being suggested in some school of thought that since the churches are no longer save to take refuge, it is imperative for church leaders to map out modalities on how to tackle this abnormality in today churches and advised that members of the Christian faith must learn on how to be security conscious both in church and at different places of worship.

Church

Early this year, there was an incident of robbery and stealing in some churches in Oleh and Irri repectively in Isoko south local government area of Delta State. For instance, the musical instruments of the Good Shepherd Convernant Ministy km3 along Uzere expressways Irri. Were carted away by unidentified persons and it occured thrice while the Christ chosen Deliverance church (CCDC) also reported a case of theft to Oleh police station and within the same period, St. John The Baptist catholic church, Oleh was also robbed by armed bandits. In this case, the Revarend sisters were left alone, but, they were dehumanised and subjected to all kinds of ill treatment where they sustained severe injuries and some years back, the security guards of the church were killed in the church premises by unknown gunmen. Still in the memory of the St, John the Baptist church, was when a young man claimed to be insane entered the church to premises and attempt to destroy the image of the Holy mother mary.

Sometime ago, a pastor of the living faith church (a.k.a) winners chapel was kidnapped by gunmen who demanded for ransom until he eventually escaped miraculously from the kidnappers “den”.

The Ozubulu killings in Anambra state is still very fresh, while we await the police investigation, there is need to say that the reports must not be swept under the carpet because we all know that some suspects has been arrested by the police.

And recently on the 28^th of October 2017, the Sanctuary of wonders international ministry located at Ayanwale, Ikotun in Alimosho local government area of Lagos state was attacked at the early hours and in the process musical instruments and plasma TVs were carted away. The CSO of the church confirmed the incident to Isoko mirror.

At this junction, it is advisable that security apparatus should kept in churches and other religious institutions to serve as preventive and precautionary measures.

From the foregoing, a school of thought had argued that there is need for religious leaders and government officials to meet regularly to appraise security situations in churches and mosque and therefore suggested that the following measure be put in place to reduce incessant attacks on religious places.

(1)  The churches and mosques should create the options of organizing constant workshops, seminars and training for security personnel.

(2)  CCTV, cameral, body scanners and other detective gadgets should be provided in churches and mosques.

(3)  The Christian faith and Muslim faith should be  educated on the need to be security conscious in order to safeguard their lives in churches and mosques and other religious gatherings

(4)  Members of religious faith should be educated on how to identify strangers and intruder on time and report such incidence to their leaders for quick response and specific areas should be designed for parking vehicles and all place of worship should br Illuminated with efficient energy-flood lights, especially at nights.

(5)  Efforts should be put in place to ensure that all religious places of worship are thoroughly searched properly, prior to religious activities to avoid mistakes, so as to uncover all implanted bombs and explosives in their environment unknown to members.