Wike Threatens To Shut Down Churches That Flout COVID-19 Protocols

Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers, has enjoined churches in the state to ensure worshippers comply with the measures put in place to curb the spread of  COVID-19.

Speaking at the thanksgiving service in celebration of the 90th birthday of Priscilla Mark on Sunday, Wike warned that any church found wanting in adhering to the COVID-19 guidelines will be sealed.

At the event held at St. Martin’s Anglican Church, Omagwa in Ikwerre local government area of the state, Wike bemoaned the refusal of residents to use face masks

Ekohotblog reports that the governor threatened to impose a lockdown on the state again.

“When you go to most churches, they don’t wear masks. Go to markets, they don’t wear masks. They believe COVID-19 is not real. It’s not real because it has not happened to you. Nobody has died whom you know that is very close to you. But if somebody has died and the person was close to you, you’ll know that COVID-19 is real,” he said.

Wike said the state would be more strict in enforcing the COVID-19 guidelines this time around because of the virulence and severity of the second wave of the pandemic.

“I want to appeal to all of you that we have to be more strict now, because the way the second wave is going, it is more deadly than the first wave. I know how many people we have lost since the second wave started.

“Tell all the churches in your diocese that everybody must wear masks. If you don’t comply, I’ll have no choice but to shut down the churches. Pentecostal, Catholic, Anglican, whatever, I’ll have no choice, because when you have it, who spends the money to treat? It’s the state. We need to use the money for some other thing, not for this. So, we should be able to discipline ourselves.”

Read Also: COVID-19: Rivers Govt Mulls Stringent Measures January 2021

According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), as of December 27, Rivers has confirmed 3,376 cases of the virus, but 3,111 recoveries and 64 deaths have been recorded.