₦airaland Forum

Kogi State Government Warns Churches Over Night Services Amid Security Threat

By Enemona Samuel Endurance | February 11, 2026

The Bureau News reports that the Kogi State Government has issued a stern warning to churches across the state over continued violations of the security protocol banning late religious activities, citing credible intelligence of planned attacks by bandits.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Femi Fanwo, disclosed that intelligence reports revealed a plot by criminal elements to attack a church in Ijumu Local Government Area.

Kogi State News: Intelligence Reveals Planned Attack

According to Fanwo, intercepted conversations among the suspected bandits indicated that the targeted church had continued to operate late into the night, making it vulnerable.

The criminals were reportedly heard boasting that they would make “a lot of money” through ransom by kidnapping worshippers during a service.

The Commissioner stated that coordinated security measures have been activated to avert the attack, but stressed that the development reinforces the need for strict compliance with the state’s preventive security directives.

“We have observed with deep concern that despite clear security advisories, some churches still operate late into the night. This is unacceptable in the face of prevailing security challenges,” Fanwo said.

Churches Ordered to Close by 4pm

Fanwo reiterated that no church is permitted to operate beyond 4:00pm. He added that churches located in isolated or bushy areas must immediately seek safer alternatives in the interest of worshippers.

He warned that any church found violating the directive would face sanctions, noting that such actions expose members to grave danger.

“This decision is not targeted at faith or worship. It is a safety-first approach designed to protect lives. Any church that deliberately disregards this protocol constitutes a security risk to its members,” he added.

The Commissioner further directed security operatives to prevent pastors from conducting night services, emphasizing that the government’s priority is crime prevention rather than post-incident response.

“Our intention is to prevent crime, not to begin running helter-skelter to secure the release of kidnapped victims,” he stated.

The Kogi State Government dismissed insinuations that the directive reflects weakness, insisting that it remains aggressive in confronting criminal elements across the state.

The Bureau News gathered that the administration has called on religious leaders to cooperate fully with security agencies to sustain peace and safeguard lives.

Army Troops Overrun Terrorist Enclave in Kogi

In a related development, troops of the Nigerian Army’s 12 Brigade overran a notorious terrorist enclave linked to suspected kingpins Kachalla Ibrahim and Shu’aibu.

The operation, led by Brigadier General Kasim Umar Sidi, resulted in the recovery of over 2,000 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm ammunition and a box of high-velocity grenades.

After securing the enclave, troops destroyed and set the camp ablaze to prevent its reuse as a staging ground for further attacks.

Kogi State Security Adviser, Jerry Omodara, commended the military’s intervention, describing it as timely and decisive.

Fanwo confirmed that clearance operations are ongoing, adding that Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo remains committed to ending criminality through both aggressive security action and preventive measures.

For continuing updates on Nigeria News Today and developments across Kogi State, stay with The Bureau News.

Source: The Bureau Newspaper

Meaning things can still deteriorate to the stage you will ask them to stop holding services.

A disgraced country is a failed country.

Please o. They should heed to this advice for safety reasons o

more evidence of the Christian genocide

Thank God for Trump

Otherwise they will gradually ban churches from opening any day due to their evil selfish agenda

But wouldn't this be systematic persecution?

I mean isn't this justification to what America has been shouting since?

Shame on CAN

Shame on the supposed GO's in naija


Shame shame shame

Lobatan... Where is pfn and can?

esnbrutality:
All GOs are Silent.
All Agbadorian RONU-bandit Christians are quiet
All CAN supporters are quiet


This is actually a GOVERNMENT that has Islamists sympathizers as Rukers.

I ask why will a Church close because of vagrants? A Government that can't provide SECURITY should be evicted.

This same KOGI State is another axis of recruitment for APC Databoys/girls who are busy shouting MANDATE but can't go to their own churches.

Their problem is
Peter Obi
NNAMDI KANU
IPOB
ESN
Simon Ekpa
BLA

God will Bless IGBOs for opening our eyes to the JIHADISTs encroachment.

God bless BIAFRA

I did not see you blaming the god that boasted in your Bible that if he did not watch over the city the watch men watches in vain .

Look at the city he’s watching how it’s going .
The same god they’re going to vigil for will be there when they’re kpaing them and he does absolutely nothing about it .

Hahaha…. Finally Islam is winning…. Na so e Dey start

Is this how they wanna eradicate Christianity in Nigeria?


Very ridiculous

You are not Got to tell humans when to worship and when not to


This is abysmal

Yet they will say there is no Christian genocide.

How will you intercepted terrorists' conversation and yet you cannot locate them?

APC is a course to Nigeria

Gradually Islam is gaining ground. But JESUS pass all una agenda. Very soon u will tell churches to close because of the bandit u guy created to win elections.

Very shameless and irresponsible for government to say these.

It's not for them to stop vigil.

As government, it's for you to provide protection and security to lives and properties so people can go about their business!

Imagine citizens cannot go about their daily lives in your state.

Big shame to CAN, PFN, all your GOs and Bishops
Adeboye, Oyedepo Kukah and all of the others!

On Sunday, they'd forget to use their podium to speak to government directly on security of lives and properties of Christians nationwide.

Look at Christianity outside!

The same way in Iran in the 1970’s while pastors are busy building big cathedral and minding themselves from political happenings in the country until there comes a revolution and the Muslim took over the country and rename the country to Islamic country, all the big big cathedral built by the church were turned into mosque eventually. Nigeria Christian don’t sleep too, it’s getting there gradually.

What's the point in holding vigil for a God that will doze off while people are being k!lled?

/
Really?

They need state government to talk sense into them? Are they truly that daft. Well…let them keep making themselves the sacrificial lambs.

/

Was this not their goal from the onset.

To curtail the activities of Christians and make Christians afraid to practice their faith lest they are killed.

Antichristian, now people are told to avoid vigil because of Keurian inspired Isleamic teroirism.

The only thing Islieam has to offer the world is deistructiion.

Isleiam is a cuirse to humanity!

alobright17:
I did not see you blaming the god that boasted in your Bible that if he did not watch over the city the watch men watches in vain .

Look at the city he’s watching how it’s going .
The same god they’re going to vigil for will be there when they’re kpaing them and he does absolutely nothing about it .

Why don't you instead blame the god that is sending the killers to go and disturb a peaceful city?

it is like you blaming people attacked by robbers for simply living their lives in their house...

So you left the killers and start blaming the killed?

Part of the weapon yeye bello share to his boys in kogi to terrorize the during is tenure was recover.

seriously?
This is the most preposterous statement i have ever heard from a state government!

Will this new law be applicable to mosques too..?

I know the war against Christianity and the church in Nigeria and especially in the north central is not ordinary. This has been the plan of the devil all along, create a fearful situation that will make government to make rule that will curb the activities of the church and also stop christians from worshipping their God the way they want.

The rate at which the gospel and Church are fast expanding and growing in Nigeria is making devil and its agents cringe hence their anger and war against the church, but they will never prevail against the church.
Matthew 16:18 KJV
And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

How else does one define Islamization of a place using government instruments and Islamic terrorists and Jihadist?

How will APC government now deny it's plotting to Islamise Nigeria?

InvertedHammer:
/
Really?

They need state government to talk sense into them? Are they truly that daft. Well…let them keep making themselves the sacrificial lambs.

/

Islamist.
Spotted. They are many in Nigeria 🇳🇬 using every available instrument for their jihad against Christians in Nigeria.