http://tribune.com.ng/index.php

FOLLOWING threats by the Islamist sect, Boko Haram, to bomb places of worship and other public places, many church members

have said they will not attend the New Year’s Eve service scheduled to hold tomorrow for fear of being killed.

Speaking with the Nigerian Tribune, the pastor of a pentecostal church located at Ojodu, Lagos, said that he might not hold service on New Year's Eve until the security climate can be determined.

“I really can't say what the situation would be, so I can't really risk the lives of my members. I want to use this opportunity to call on the Federal Government to address the security situation in the country.”

However, churches in Abuja, the Federal Capital, have decided not to disclose their security plans.

Nigerian Tribune asked church officials how they were adapting to the challenging situation in Abuja.

A priest of the Holy Trinity Church in Maitama, Abuja, who did not disclose his name declined to speak to Nigerian Tribune. He said he did not want to discuss such a security matter openly.

At the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, only security officials were seen on the premises, as they said that the priests and the religious leaders had gone on holiday.

The General Overseer of the Apostolic Fire Ministries, Reverend Pelumi Emmanuel, however, said members of the church had become more security-conscious following the Christmas Day bombing that took place in Niger State.

Part of the security measures put in place, he stated, was for every member of the church to monitor suspicious movements within the premises of the church.

'Though we believe in divine security, we need to be practical about the whole thing.

“We have to be more conscious of movements within our environments. Nowadays that harmless-looking small nylon or polythene bag you are seeing on the floor could be lethal, the more reason we need to be security-conscious.”

Meanwhile, police anti-bomb squad has been deployed in strategic parishes of The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) in Abuja, as a precautionary measure following the Christmas Day bombing of some churches in Nigeria.

This is just as many church members are planning to stay away from churches for the New Year’s Eve service.

When the Nigerian Tribune visited the zonal headquarters of the church in Abuja located at Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse II, on Wednesday, there was a heavy presence of policemen before the commencement of a one and a half hours service at noon.

The main entrance to the church was blocked by the police van, police anti-bomb squad, FCT Command, preventing vehicles from entering into the church premises. Also, the pedestrian gateway was mounted by men of the anti-bomb squad, who frisked worshippers before they were allowed in.

The Assistant Resident Pastor of the church, Mr Asher, declined comments on the security arrangement in the church. “We have been directed not to speak on security, issues with anybody. But if you want anything on security you can go to the Redemption Camp.”

One of the church officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Nigerian Tribune that since the Christmas Day attack on some churches by the Islamic sect, Boko Haram, the church had taken proactive measures to prevent a recurrence.

“We know that human security belongs to God. But you will also not forget that the devil is always at work, fighting hard to see that it creates enmity between the people and the Almighty God. So, there is nothing wrong in what we are doing,” the source said.

One of the worshippers at the RCCG zonal headquarters, Abuja, Margaret Okwe, said what happened on Christmas Day was not enough to stop Christians from going to church to worship God. “I think that should be something to strengthen our faith in God,” she said.

She, however, said there was the need for the government at all levels to take the issue of security more seriously.

In a bid to forestall a re-ccurence of the Christmas Day bombing, which took place at St Theresa’s Catholic Church, Madalla, in Niger State, Anglican churches in Abuja have said that security would be beefed up around their premises.

Speaking with the Nigerian Tribune, the security committee of the church said it had requested for some police officers to join forces with in-house security team to be on duty, especially during the New year’s Eve and the New Year’s service.

The committee’s head, who sought anonymity, stated that other measures were not to be disclosed since it was a security matter, adding that the church had put all things in place to secure the lives of its members and their property.

The church further called on the Federal Government to strengthen its security agencies in order to curb the excesses of the Boko Haram sect, which was almost making the country ungovernable.

The church also condemned the attack on St Theresa's Catholic Church, Madalla, in Niger State, adding that the lives of the citizens should be paramount in the agenda of the government.

Meanwhile, as an aftermath of the deadly bomb blast that occurred on Christmas day at St Theresa’s Church, Madalla, Christian leaders in Abuja have declared that God is their security but also called on the security agencies to step up their activities to ensure that the ugly trend is stopped.

Some of the church leaders who spoke to the Nigerian Tribune called on the Federal Government to unmask those behind the activities of the Boko Haram sect in the country.

The church leaders, however, refused to disclose security measures they were putting in place in their various churches in order to forestall the Madalla experience as the New Year's Eve celebration draws near.

Already, there has been palpable fear in Abuja, especially within the Christian community, over the state of insecurity in the country.

Speaking with the Nigerian Tribune, the leader of Cherubim and Seraphim Movement (Ayo Ni O), Dakibiyu District, in Jabi area, Special Apostle Adedayo Bodunrin, while commiserating with those that were affected in the Christmas day bomb explosion, urged the government to bring the perpetrators to book.

He added that the Christian community would not relent in its efforts at praying for peace and unity of the county, saying that "special prayer session is starting tomorrow (today) mainly to pray for peace and unity of this our great country."

Others who spoke with the Nigerian Tribune on condition of anonymity tasked the government on the need to make protection of life and property of Nigerians its top priority.

It is now watch and pray

Suported!

superior1:

It is now watch and pray  

Matthew 26-41:

Watch and pray

Christians wont go to church for fear of Boko bombs but alakubas will shout allakkpa unhindered, thats not fair.

^^^^^^^

Life itself is unfair. No wonder GEJ said we should live with it Na God hand we dey

All these are signs of anarchy.

the gates of hell shall not prevail.

Let us do our part. Watch and Pray

Supported but it seems we are giving in to boko haram.I will go to church on sunday.We must not let boko haram win

So we xtains are scared of going to church to worship while d satanic muslims worship their dead God in peace? God forbid, something have to be done. They too must not pray with their 2 eyes closed