Ogun residents banned from holding forest prayers

The police in Ogun State have warned religious adherents against holding prayer sessions in forests or isolated places in the wake of kidnappings in the state. The spokesman of the police in the state, Abimbola Oyeyemi, in a statement, said such practices had made many residents fall into the hands of kidnappers. He noted that […]

The police in Ogun State have warned religious adherents against holding prayer sessions in forests or isolated places in the wake of kidnappings in the state.

The spokesman of the police in the state, Abimbola Oyeyemi, in a statement, said such practices had made many residents fall into the hands of kidnappers.

He noted that the command was worried that despite series of warnings and security tips from it, some members of the public “are still in the habit of organising prayer sessions in the forests, thereby making themselves easy prey for kidnappers.

“In as much as the command is not oblivious of the right to freedom of religion, it is worth of note that the present security situation in the country is not favourably disposed to organising prayer sessions in isolated places.

“The command is working assiduously to get rid of the criminal elements who have taken kidnapping as business, and pending when they will be satisfactorily eliminated, the general public should desist from creating opportunities for them to operate. Security should be seen as everybody’s business, and we should all play our parts in securing ourselves and our property.”

However, the police spokesman said, “If there is any compelling reason to embark on such prayer sessions, the organisers should report to the nearest police station for advice and possible security patrol of the area.”