The Kogi State Government has issued a strong warning to churches across the state over continued violations of the security protocol banning late religious activities as well as worship in vulnerable places without security cover and clearance, citing credible intelligence of planned attacks by bandits.

In a press statement made available to newsmen on Tuesday, the State’s Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Femi Fanwo, disclosed that security intelligence at the disposal of the State government revealed a plot by criminal elements to attack a church in Ijumu Local Government Area of the state.

According to the Commissioner, intercepted conversations among the bandits indicated that the targeted church had continued to operate late into the night, making it vulnerable to attack. The criminals were reportedly heard boasting that they would make “a lot of money” through ransom by kidnapping worshippers during the service.

Fanwo said that although coordinated security measures have since been activated to avert the planned attack, the development has reinforced 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,” he said.

He reiterated that no church is permitted to operate beyond 4:00pm, stressing that churches located in isolated or bushy environments must immediately seek safer alternatives in the interest of their members.

The Commissioner warned that any church found violating the security protocol would face sanctions, noting that such actions exposed worshippers 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,” Fanwo added.

He further directed security operatives across the state to stop pastors from fixing or conducting night services, emphasising that the government’s priority was crime prevention rather than emergency response after lives have been endangered.

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

Fanwo dismissed insinuations that the policy reflects fear or weakness, stressing that the Kogi State Government was aggressively confronting criminal elements.

“Our approach is not cowardice. We are mobilizing security forces to overrun the criminals, and we are recording significant successes. However, effective security also requires preventive measures, and we must all act responsibly to protect our citizens,” he said.

The Kogi State Government called on religious leaders to cooperate fully with security agencies and align with the safety directives, assuring residents that the administration remained committed to safeguarding lives and sustaining peace across the state.

In a related development, security forces have recorded a major breakthrough in the sustained offensives against criminal elements in Kogi State, as troops of the Nigerian Army overran a notorious terrorists’ enclave and recovered a massive cache of arms and ammunition.

Troops of the 12 Brigade achieved the decisive success during a coordinated counter-terrorism operation that dismantled a camp linked to terrorist kingpins Kachalla Ibrahim and Shu’aibu, figures long associated with coordinated attacks and criminal activities across parts of the state.

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, a seizure that has significantly degraded the operational and logistical capacity of the criminal network.

After securing the enclave, troops completely destroyed and set the camp ablaze, effectively denying the terrorists the opportunity to reoccupy or reuse the location as a staging ground for further attacks.

Commending the operation, the Kogi State Security Adviser, Jerry Omodara, applauded the gallantry and professionalism of the Nigerian military, describing the intervention as timely and courageous, and stressing that the success sends a clear message that terrorism will find no sanctuary in Kogi State.

Also confirming the development, Fanwo said the State Government was working closely with security agencies on ongoing clearance operations across the state, adding that Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo remained resolute and determined to end criminality in the State through a combination of aggressive security action and preventive measures aimed at protecting lives and property.

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