Compensate Demolished Churches or Face Legal Action, Group Tells A’Ibom Govt

An international non-governmental organisation, Equity International Initiative (EII), has asked the Akwa Ibom State Government to compensate churches that its task force on COVID-19 demolished or face legal action for alleged breach of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

The Country Director of the organisation, Mr. Chris Iyama gave the ultimatum in a statement yesterday, asking the state government to apologise and compensate all the affected churches within seven days.

Iyama said: “It is sad to say that the COVID-19 Task Forces of A kw a-Ib om, O gun, Lagos and F CT have gone beyond their limit by taking laws into their hands.

“We are worried about the use of force which has caused the untimely death of innocent citizens of respective states at a time Nigeria is experiencing hardship.”

Iyama said section 38(1) of the 1999 constitution (as amended) guaranteed that every person “shall be entitled to freedom of thought conscience and religion including freedom to change religion or belief and (either in community with others and in public or private) to manifest and propagate his or her belief in worship, teaching, practice and observance.”

Contrary to the provisions of the constitution, the country director said the Akwa-Ibom state government and the COVID-19 Task Force “breached the constitution by attacking worshippers on June 21.

“E I I is calling on the state government to refrain from further demo ni sing, embarrassing and shameful acts which grossly violate the right of freedom of worship as enshrined in Section 38(1) of the 1999 constitution.”