‘Popular Pastors’ Arrested For Flauting Lockdown Order

Three pastors were arrested in Warri, Delta State for conducting church services amidst lockdown in the state to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease.

The defaulting churches were St James Anglican Church, Ojabugbe, All Saints Anglican Church, Airport Road and Christ for the World Mission, Daudu Street, all in Warri.

Two of the pastors arrested, claimed that their services were not held to full capacity, while it was reported that one of the churches had over hundred congregants.

The Governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa, on his verified Twitter handle on Saturday evening, reemphasized the lockdown order when he disclosed that a third person at the state’s capital, Asaba, had tested positive for the coronavirus disease.

Okowa tweeted, “the confirmation of this third case further reinforces our call for social distancing and a lockdown. All Christians should worship at home tomorrow.”

The State Commissioner of Police, Mr Hafiz Inuwa, confirmed the arrest of the pastors.

He said, “It is confirmed. Three pastors were arrested for assembling congregations of over 100 each, in fact, for exposing the lives of their congregations to danger. In spite of the lockdown directives given by the governments. As I speak with you, they are being detained.”

The Warri Area Command, ACP Mohammed Garba, also blamed the pastors for flouting the government’s order and assured that they would be charged to court for noncompliance.

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