8 Boko Haram: Lagos urges mosques, churches to be vigilant

Following reports of planned invasion of Lagos State by the Boko Haram sect, the state government yesterday called on churches and mosques to be vigilant and to install metal detectors in their premises.

The government also advised places of worship, particularly central mosques where a large number of Muslim faithful gather on Friday and big churches, to employ more security personnel for the protection of their premises and worshippers.

Commissioner for Home Affairs,

Dr. Abdulhakeem Abdullateef, gave the advice during the meetings he had with the Governing Council of Christ The Light Chapel and the state Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board.

He urged religious leaders to work hard to ensure that terrorists do not succeed in Lagos.

Abdullateef lamented the new tactics of Boko Haram by which young girls are used as suicide bombers to kill people at worship centres and called on religious leaders, organisations and associations to be vigilant and guard against such occurrence in the state.

He said the state government would soon organise a stakeholders conference to look at how to develop places of worship internally and externally.

He said his ministry would coordinate and supervise activities of mosques and churches in the state.

Earlier, Chairman of the Governing Council, Christ The Light Chapel, Mr. Ola Dawodu, called on the state government to come up with policies that would improve relation between the government and religious bodies in the state.