Churches in the South Eastern states are taking drastic measures in order to forestall incidents of bombings by Boko Haram in their church premises.
Notable among such measures was taken by the Catholic Diocese of Enugu on Sunday. The church took pains to screen members before allowing them into the Sunday services.
The church also banned women from entering with hand-bags as part of the security measures.
Other Pentecostal churches within Enugu have also procured explosives detectors with which they screened vehicles driven to church by worshippers into the premises of the churches within the state capital. Some churches also constructed special iron barricades to prevent insurgents from hitting the church buildings with their vehicles, being a tactic that have being reportedly used before.
The leadership of the churches said the extra security measures were taken because of the recent discovery of two bombs in the Winners’ Chapel, Owerri, Imo State.
The more than 400 insurgents at Aba, Abia State, who were intercepted by soldiers, and a few of them who reportedly escaped is anote reason for beefing up security in that region of the country.
The Bishop of Enugu Catholic Diocese, Rt. Rev. Calistus Onaga, reportedly directed all parish priests within the Diocese to make the official announcement regarding the ban on female worshippers coming into the churches with handbag, during Sunday services.
Ogana appealed to the church members to cooperate with the ushers and security men charged with maintaining security in the churches, explained that the exercise was not meant to embarrass the women or anybody, but borne out of the present disturbing insecurity challenges facing the nation.
He assured that the security measures would be carried out with human face,and in a civilised manner, adding that the church did not want to take chances.
“I must tell you, the Bishop and entire Catholic faithful in Enugu, are apprehensive with the rumour of the insurgents infiltrating the east, especially the alleged recent escape of two buses conveying Boko Haram members in Abia state, during a security check,” a churchgoer commented.
“I support the development that henceforth, women will no longer be allowed to enter Catholic churches during masses with hand bags, apart from their purses, which will also be subjected to thorough scrutiny by church workers.”
He said that before the announcement was made, the Bishop had already briefed all the parish priests under the Diocese, so that they can take the message down to their various parishes.
“Though, we know that if God did not guard a city, guard men will be guarding in vein; but there is also need for us as human beings to play our own part, while God plays his own part”.
It was also observed in some of the Pentecostal churches within Enugu capital visited yesterday that the worshippers were subjected to thorough security screening by the internal security men of the churches while some churches were being guarded by armed policemen.
Cars and handbags were thoroughly searched to ensure that no bombs were smuggled into the church while the premises were patrolled regularly to forestall attacks by insurgents who might target the places of worship.
