It will not be out of place to say that in Nigeria today, the menace of the dreaded Boko Haram is taking a toll in all aspects of our national life including the church which has received more than a dosage from the mindless sect that attack and bomb churches at will. Security consciousness has therefore become top priority in the federal capital territory including the churches.In this report, the trio of EMMA OKEREH, CHALYA DUL and AMARACHI EGBEOGU write on the security alertness of Abuja churches and the attendant financial burden.
Since the Christmas day bombing of St. Theresa’s Catholic church in Madalla, near Abuja, the fear of Boko Haram among Christian worshippers, is the beginning of wisdom.
The bombing of that catholic church which claimed several lives and put many families in perpetual agony by the mindless sect, has put churches in the northern part of Nigeria on its toes, even as attendance to church services and programmes have dropped sharply.
LEADERSHIP WEEKEND investigations ,however revealed that inspite of the concerted efforts of various churches to stem the tide,members are apprehensive and less enthusiastic on church activities especially, night vigils as they are afraid that the it would be more deadly if the sect struck in the night when visibility is impaired.
This has resulted in some of the churches having less revenue than they have always had in the days before the advent of Boko Haram.
Obvious of this threat, authorities of the various churches have stepped up efforts at checking the rising spate of insecurity in their churches by collaborating with the security agencies, as well as exploring other security gimmicks to secure their members as well as win their confidence.
More confounding to the authorities of the churches is that while they grapple with the challenges of securing the churches and its members, some members are not comfortable with the level of security checks adopted by their churches and this has adversely affected the church projects as churches have now learnt to invest heavily in security which hitherto, were limited to opening and closing of church gates.
A survey by LEADERSHIP WEEKEND in some of the churches in Abuja show that churches are threatened with loss of membership as many worshippers now prefer to stay in the comfort of their homes, as against the enthusiasm with which families rush to the churches en-masse in the pre-Boko Haram era.
Different churches of different hues have therefore, embraced whichever security arrangement that is more convenient to it.
A visit to Our lady Catholic pro cathedral in Abuja reveals that although the church still allow its members to park their cars in the premises, the cars are nonetheless, thoroughly frisked before they are allowed in.
LEADERSHIP WEEKEND findings show that if not for the location of the church, the members? of the church would have been forced to park outside in spite of the vastness of the compound.
It was further gathered that both the rich and the poor, the known and the unknown alike are all subjected to the same treatment which some people naturally abhor since they believe that they are the pillars of the church.
But our findings show that the authorities of the church are not leaving anything to chance and have implored the congregation to bear with it and see it as a sacrifice it has to make .
At the Foursuare Gospel church located in Asokoro district of Abuja, the resident pastor, Rev. Julius Msheliza told LEADERSHIP WEEKEND? that while worshipping and serving the lord, the church is still conscious of safeguarding the worshippers.
He said that things are no longer the way it used to be, admitting that people now come to church with apprehension even when there is heavy security.
‘’Before, people come to church without any fear; now, you have to get the security forces on ground to screen people. There is no more privacy now because women have to open their bags. The same thing with the men. Sometimes, people do not even come to church because of fear of what may happen. We are really concerned.’’ He said.
The Clergy explained that the church has tried to rise up to the challenges by engaging more security as well as creating security unit in the church.
He also said that the church has also acquired some security devices all of which have become additional financial burden to the church which is determined to give its members adequate security when they come to worship.
As he puts it, ‘’It is taking a toll on us, no doubt. There are some people that feel offended sometimes that you are prying into their privacy by searching and checking everywhere and every-thing; and some of them are people you know but you can not give preferential treatment.
Of course, some are angry and do not come to church as often as they should. So, there are enormous challenges that have been thrown up by insecurity.’’
The resident pastor however, advised Christians not to allow fear to completely distract them from serving their God.
‘’We? should be careful not to allow the merchants of violence to cage our lives. Have faith in God. He has the monopoly of our times and our seasons and He is the one that changes seasons of lives. He will also change this season of violence we are having in Nigeria.
‘’Enough is enough’’ a protocol officer at the Common Wealth of Zion Assembly, popularly known as COZA, said? in his recap on the measures of security the church has taken. He said before the bombings, members were allowed to bring their cars into the church premises but presently this is not happening.
‘’ We are doing our best to make our members as well as ourselves feel comfortable and secure in the house of God. We also acknowledge God’s presence in our midst, and we are very grateful for his unending mercy’’ Mr Ayodele concluded.
The church and its administration had been advised to take personal security measures. In a bid of doing that, police officers have been hired by many churches to secure the church premises especially on worship days.
Mrs Onwura, a member of Holy Family Catholic Church, Life Camp, said that the church has been responsible for the hiring of security officials and it has cost them a from the church funds. ‘’ It is quite expensive because the church has put a lot? projects on hold simply because security matters are more important right now.
As a matter of fact, it is top priority right now’’. ‘’ people are searched properly before they enter the church and the church has security surveillance cameras as well’’ she said.
Around some of the bigger churches in the heart of the FCT, road blocks and road obstructions have been put in place to slow down movement and distance people and possible sect members from the church surroundings.
In Wuse zone 3, the Methodist church beside the Zone 3 police station has full police presence. The road behind the church and also behind the police station have been totally blocked and this makes road users and motorists make use of only one way or taking alternative routes? causing traffic jam most of the time.
Speaking to a police officer who pleaded for anonymity, he said the road blocks were put in order to keep terrorists far away from the church and also the police station. ‘’ we are doing all we can, including putting our lives on the line in other to ensure that peace reigns” he said.?
Due to fear derived from previous incidents where families lost many members in bomb blasts in a church, some families now split up and attend different worship services.
Hilarious, but true, Mr Kingsley, a member of Winner’s Chapel, explained? how he and his family attend different church services every Sunday. ‘’ my son and my wife attend the first service of our church, while my two daughters and I attend the second service.
I do this simply because I don’t want a case in which God forbid, I lose my immediate family or vice versa’’ he explained.