NGO raises alarm over attacks on worship centres, seeks immediate action

Stanley Ihedigbo

New Horizons for Peace and Charity Initiative (NHPI), a non-governmental organisation (NGO), called on the Federal Government to take decisive measures to prevent attacks on worship centres and avert loss of lives.

President of NHPI, Mr. Uche Udungwor, made the call while urging the government and other relevant bodies to act swiftly to restore public confidence in the security of worship centres across the country.

He decried the increasing prevalence of attacks on worship centres, stressing that the government must act proactively to prevent such incidents and restore worshippers’ peace of mind.

According to him, reports of attacks and threats to target communities and worship centres during the yuletide by terrorist groups should serve as a strong warning for the government to intensify its responsibility of protecting the lives and property of citizens.

“We have continued to witness violent attacks on communities, with their attendant displacement of people and destruction of livelihoods.

“The widespread premeditated threats to attack people during the yuletide should not be treated with levity by the authorities.

“It is disheartening that these groups openly declare their plans to attack and still go ahead to unleash mayhem on defenceless citizens.

“A few days ago, there were viral videos of terrorists announcing plans to attack churches during this Christmas period. What effrontery! I hope our military has strategised effectively to counter them,” he said.

Udungwor noted that on Saturday, some communities in Kogi State were directed by the traditional rulers’ council and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the area to suspend all church activities during the yuletide to avoid becoming victims of attacks.

He questioned how long such measures would continue in the face of persistent insecurity.

The NHPI president appealed to the Federal Government to be proactive by placing the military on red alert, strengthening intelligence gathering, and neutralising the terrorists.

“Churches, and by extension communities, must be protected from these calculated and targeted violent attacks.

“It is not a crime for the government to seek help because, from every indication, these terrorists, by whatever name they are called, have become emboldened,” he stated.