Many churches in the country have started taking security measures to protect members against bandit attacks.
It was gathered that while some now install CCTVs on their premises, others have suspended night programmes and vigils for security reasons.
It was 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 with some leaders of the Christian Association of Nigeria 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 Sunday PUNCH, 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.
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 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 Sunday PUNCH, 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.