EXTRA: Police warn Ogun residents to stop praying in forests

The police command in Ogun state has warned residents to stop observing prayers in the forests and other isolated places.

The police said despite a series of warnings from security operatives, some members of the public still engage in such an act.

Abimbola Oyeyemi, the Ogun police spokesperson, in a statement on Sunday, said those who organise prayer sessions in forests are making themselves prey to kidnappers.

Oyeyemi said although residents have the right to freedom of religion, the present security situation is not favourable to organise prayer sessions in forests.

“The Ogun state police command has observed with great concern that, despite a series of warnings and security tips from the command, some members of the public are still in the habit of organizing prayer sessions in the forest, thereby making themselves easy prey for kidnappers,” the statement reads.

“In as much as the command is not oblivious of the right to freedom of religion, it is worthy of note that the present security situation in the country is not favorably disposed to organizing prayer sessions in isolated places.

“The command is working assiduously to get rid of the criminal elements who have taken kidnapping as business, and pending when they will be satisfactorily eliminated, the general public should desist from creating opportunities for them to operate.”

Over the past few weeks, the state has recorded some cases of kidnapping.

Earlier this month, three staff of Obasanjo Farm were abducted at Kobape in Obafemi-Owode LGA of the state.

In August, gunmen kidnapped the son of a former National Secretary of Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Adewunmi Alayaki, on his father’s farm in Isaga-Orile community of Abeokuta North LGA of the state.