Bans On Religious Gathering Still In Force, Police Warns Oyedepo, Others

Ogun Police Command has warned religious leaders who, according to it, “are planning to open their worship centers all in the name of God Says” to desist from going ahead with the plan because the ban placed on religious gathering is still very much in force.

The police gave this warning in a press release signed by the Ppro DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi made available to journalist in Abeokuta on Saturday evening.

It will be recalled that the founder of Living Faith Churches (A.k.a Winners Chapel) Bishop David Oyedepo on Wednesday had kick against the order banning gathering in churches while markets are allowed to operate.

Oyedepo, whose church headquarters is in Ota, Ogun State had also declared “churches in all Nations opened.”

But while warning against commencement of religious services, the Ogun Police Command said, “It has come to the notice of Ogun State Police Command that some religious leaders in the state are preparing to open their various religious centers for people to converge in total disobedience to both the state and federal government directives.

“The command hereby appeal to such religious leaders in both Islamic and Christian faith who may be having such intention to have a change of mind because the security agencies in the state will view such with all seriousness.

“The command will not tolerate any act capable of undermining the determination of the state and federal government to fight the covid 19 pandemic to a standstill.

“The commissioner of police therefore wishes to use this medium to remind all religious leaders that the ban on all forms of gathering be it social or religious is still in force. He also admonished all and sundry to cooperate with the government in its efforts to make the state coronavirus free.”