Insecurity: Police Urge Religious Leaders to Suspend Vigil in Ondo, Arrest 286 Suspects

The Ondo State Police Command has advised religious leaders across the state to suspend night worship activities following rising security concerns, particularly after the abduction of worshippers during a midnight service in Uso.
Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Lawal, gave the warning yesterday while briefing journalists in Akure on recent crime trends and police operations in the state.

The advice followed the kidnapping of six members of a Celestial Church during a midnight service on Wednesday at a church located along the Uso–Owo Expressway in Uso, within the Owo Local Government Area.
Lawal disclosed that the victims included pregnant women and one physically challenged person, describing the incident as disturbing and avoidable.

“I do not know when a church became a maternity home or hospital. If someone is pregnant, the best place should be a hospital or maternity home,” he said.
He explained that one of the worshippers was rescued shortly after the incident and an informant was arrested, while the kidnappers reportedly demanded N100 million ransom for the release of the remaining victims.
According to Lawal, night religious activities pose monitoring challenges for security operatives. “It is easier for us to monitor religious activities during the day than at night. We have advised religious leaders—Muslim, Christian and traditional worshippers to suspend night worship for now because of the prevailing security challenges.”