INCREASE SECURITY AT CHURCHES, CAN TO AUTHORITIES

Tunji Wusu –

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) National Leadership has expressed grief over a string of unfortunate incidents that have shook Nigeria’s Christian community in recent days.

Twelve pastors, a child, and a Salvation Army driver were all killed in a terrible accident outside Benin City, Edo State.

at addition, a pastor was killed and several people were abducted as a result of an attack on members of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) at Abule-Ori, Obafemi Owode Local Government Area, Ogun State.

CAN expressed its sympathies to the victims’ families and the impacted church communities in reaction to these incidents and called for heightened security and vigilance at places of worship.

The loss of twelve pastors (Officers), a child, and a driver in a fatal accident on the same day near Benin City, Edo State, is a devastating blow to the congregation, the body of Christ in Nigeria, and the country as a whole, said CAN President Archbishop Daniel Okoh in a press release on Wednesday.

We pray for God to comfort and lessen the anguish of the Salvation Army as we stand with them during this extremely trying time.

In order to avoid a repeat of such a tragic catastrophe, the Archbishop further encouraged government officials to fully investigate the accident.

He referred to the assault on RCCG worshippers as an attack on religious freedom in Nigeria and demanded that security services step up their efforts to find the attackers.

The CAN President remarked, “We commend the security agencies for their prompt response to the incident and call for increased efforts to apprehend all the perpetrators.”

He made a point of saying that these occurrences highlighted the growing demand for more robust security measures at places of worship and he demanded an exhaustive probe into the tragic incident.

During religious gatherings, “we urge the various security agencies to increase vigilance at places of worship and provide adequate security measures for worshippers,” stated Archbishop Okoh.

In a message to the nation, he urged people to keep looking to God for assistance rather than to be disheartened by recent setbacks.

“The afflicted families and churches are in our thoughts and prayers. The top clergyman prayed, “May the souls of the dead rest in eternal peace.”