The Kogi State Government has warned that churches operating beyond prescribed hours or ignoring security advisories will face sanctions. The directive comes amid intelligence reports of a planned attack on a church in Ijumu Local Government Area.
In a statement, Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Femi Fanwo, said no church is permitted to hold services past 4:00 p.m., particularly those in isolated or bushy areas. He emphasized that the policy is aimed at safeguarding worshippers, not restricting religious practice.“
Any church that deliberately disregards this protocol constitutes a security risk to its members,” Fanwo said. He also directed security operatives to prevent pastors from scheduling night services, stressing that crime prevention, rather than emergency response, remains the government’s priority.
The government called on religious leaders to cooperate with security agencies and implement safety measures to protect congregants.Separately, security forces reported a major breakthrough in the state’s offensive against criminal elements. Troops of the Nigerian Army’s 12 Brigade, under Brigadier General Kasim Umar Sidi, dismantled a terrorist enclave linked to notorious kingpins Kachalla Ibrahim and Shu’aibu. Authorities recovered over 2,000 rounds of ammunition and high-velocity grenades and destroyed the camp to prevent its reuse.
Fanwo said the state government is collaborating closely with security agencies, and Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo remains committed to ending criminality through proactive and preventive measures. Kogi State Security Adviser Jerry Omodara praised the military’s operation as a decisive message that terrorism will not find refuge in the state.
