Several churches in Osun State had on Sunday, July 23, dispatched security men to provide security during church service to avert potential attacks from hoodlums.
This move was made after an anonymous Facebook page had posted a message about plans to attack a church in the state.
The post had read partly:
“A Church with the name St Mary’s Catholic Church situated in Osun region is again being targeted for attacks. People close to this church must be made to fully understand the situation. 23rd July is the date.
We urge everyone out there to get this message across to the church and its management. Just as was seen during the Owo massacre. Do not ignore this. The casualties would be numerous.”
The post had gone viral on Saturday, July 22, causing panic among the residents.
In response to this warning, several churches in areas around Kelebe, Ayekale, Ogo Oluwa, Okefia, and Testing Ground areas had police operatives stationed to provide security.
Armed security men had been deployed to the big churches while in the smaller churches, security men were seen without armoury.
At the State Headquarters of the Living Faith Church, West bypass, in Osogbo, armed police operatives were seen milling about, while in Saint Mary’s Catholic Church, Ayotoro, Amotekun Corps and hunters had joinned the police force to provide security to church goers.
Regardless of the high security presence, there was an obvious drop in the turnout of worshippers in the region.
Some of the churches had as a consequence of the threat, shortened the service time.
Some worshippers in the churches has revealed they had not been aware of the threats made before they came to church.
Meanwhile, upon contacted for an update on the issue on Sunday, the Osun State Police Command’s spokesperson, Yemisi Opalola, had stated that personnel were deployed to all parts of the state, remarking that no case of insecurity had been reported.
