The Ondo State Police Command has placed an immediate ban on all night programmes and activities in religious centres throughout the state, citing serious and rising security concerns.
Commissioner of Police Adebowale Lawal made the announcement today at the state police headquarters in Akure while parading suspected kidnappers.
He directed religious and community leaders, irrespective of faith, to suspend all nighttime gatherings until sufficient security measures are established.
Organisers of any unavoidable night events are required to liaise directly with the police for professional security assessment and guidance.
The directive follows the kidnapping of six worshippers including five pregnant women and one person with a physical disability during a midnight service at a Celestial Church of Christ in Uso community, Owo Local Government Area, on February 25, 2026.
The incident, which occurred around 12:50 a.m. along the Uso-Owo Expressway, has intensified public anxiety about safety at religious venues.
CP Lawal criticised the practice of using church premises as informal maternity centres. “I do not know when a church became a maternity home or hospital. If someone is pregnant, the best place is a hospital or a maternity home,” he stated.
He explained that daytime services allow for better police monitoring and urged faith-based organisations to maintain close cooperation with security agencies to protect worshippers.
The commissioner also pointed to inadequate community vigilance as a contributing factor to the spate of kidnappings, especially in Akure North Local Government Area.
“Some people invite strangers from places like Kogi or Benue without proper profiling. You do not even know what they are doing.
But when incidents happen, it becomes the police’s responsibility,” Lawal remarked, stressing that stronger collaboration between communities and law enforcement is essential to reducing abductions and related violence.
The statewide ban remains in effect as a precautionary measure while authorities intensify efforts to address the insecurity. Police say they are making progress in ongoing investigations and rescue operations linked to recent cases.
No official timeline has been given for when the restriction might be lifted, but the command has emphasised that the safety of residents remains the top priority.
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