Worshippers now guarded by armed personnel – Apostolic Faith Church

By Boye Oyeyemi –

The Apostolic Faith Church says it has intensified security around its worship centres amid growing concerns over attacks on religious institutions across the country.

This was disclosed by Prof. Joseph Oba Fatoba, a member of the church’s Board of Trustees for West and Central Africa, during a visit to the Ondo State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists as part of preparations for the 2025 Ondo/Ekiti camp meeting.

Fatoba said worsening insecurity had forced churches to adjust their safety protocols to protect worshippers during services.

“For some time now, we have had security personnel guiding our services. Formerly, it was not like that. On Sundays, while people are worshipping, there must be security men on duty. We don’t want any problem to arise unexpectedly.

“Insecurity affects everybody—Christians, Muslims, and others. It is now a national issue. If we try to tie it only to religion, we may fail in fighting it. The devil is behind what is happening,” he said.

He added that the church had begun intensive prayer sessions, open to the public, to seek divine help, noting that political strategies alone had failed to resolve the crisis.

Responding, Ondo NUJ chairman Leke Adegbite praised the church for its spiritual intervention, saying, “A fraction of what we face would have scattered them. But God has been merciful because of men and women who pray silently for this nation.”