News
CASON Confab Proffers Solutions to Church Killings, Kidnaps, Others
Faced with the fact that over 6,000 Christians were bombed, beheaded or shot dead between January 2021 and March 2022 in Nigeria, and about 2,500 were kidnapped for ransom, the Church Administrators Society of Nigeria (CASON) hosted speakers to proffer solutions at its 9th annual conference tagged “The Church and the Challenge of Insecurity” in Lagos, this week.
Speaking at the confab, security expert and chief executive of Halogen Group, Mr. Wale Olaoye identified complacency and distraction as primary reasons the unchurched and the un-discipled have foisted mayhem on Christians and the rest of the world.
He said, “Church leaders in Nigeria have become complacent. Rather than disciple the nations, they are busy acquiring wealth and building monuments, while their teeming followers idolize them. The truth is that the mark of great churches is not in their seating capacity, but in their sending capacity.
“Back in the day, Christians were eager to travel from the south to the core north on missions to win souls for Christ. But churches have stopped sending and funding missionaries. The alarming result of this is that out of 7.92 billion people in the world, Christians are just 2.26 billion. Amongst the unchurched 5.27 billion are ISIS, ISWAB, Boko Haram and other terrorists who want to foist their extreme ideologies upon the world through violent bombings, killings, kidnappings, etc.” Olaoye explained.
According to the CASON Vice President, Pastor Steve Akoni, church administrators and pastors must rethink the new normal “because we are faced with new realities. We invite people to come and worship the Lord in our churches, therefore we are obliged to do all that we can to keep them safe. Technology has made security easy, so let’s install CCTV cameras, train our ushers and gatemen to become security conscious, and raise the security awareness of our congregation.”
Also speaking at the confab via a recorded video, Dr. Sam Adeyemi, Senior Pastor, Daystar Christian Centre, advised that church leaders must engage in scenario planning and prepare for all eventualities. He emphasised that such pro-activeness is faith-based and God-inspired because, “We need a combination of humanity and divinity to have security.”
Responding to questions, the CASON President and chief host of the confab, Pastor Seyi Oladimeji said, “The insecurity challenge dictates that every church leader today must create a secure but friendly worship facility and environment. We must leverage on both physical and virtual security structures, just as the bible instructs us to put on all of God’s armour so that we would all be able to stand safe against all strategies and tricks of Satan.”
In the heat of insecurity and ahead of the 2023 elections, all the speakers at the 2022 CASON Conference agreed that while all Christians in Nigeria must demand good governance and vote only for politicians with proven integrity, church leaders must look within and begin to do much more to erase ostentatious living, prevent stealing, fraud and fake lifestyles among their numbers.
In addition to this, churches in Nigeria are also encouraged to return to funding missionaries to reach and win the unchurched in order to breakdown the rage against Christianity.
According to Olaoye, the main speaker, church leaders must be able to predict dangers, prevent them, protect their congregation and respond accordingly to all threats. “In addition to this, churches should begin to do proper risk assessment, background checks on key persons, invest in facility security systems, establish access control, emergency and lockdown procedures, etc. They must also invest in insurance and cybersecurity.”
Pastor Wole Oladiyun, author, engineer, serial entrepreneur and Senior Pastor, Christ Livingspring Apostolic Ministry (CLAM) rounded off the conference with a fervent prayer session, while commending CASON for taking the initiative to train administrators for the Church in Nigeria, even in its ongoing collaboration with Babcock University.
The Nigeria Police Force has suspended the nationwide enforcement of its tinted glass permit policy following an interim court order that restrained the move.
The Force announced on December 15, 2025, that it would begin enforcing the policy starting January 2, 2026, citing its responsibility to ensure public safety and internal security.
However, in a statement issued on Thursday and signed by Force Public Relations Officer Benjamin Hundeyin, the police revealed that they were served with an interim order on December 17, 2025.
The enforcement will remain suspended pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit or the vacation of the interim order.
“The Nigeria Police Force was served with an interim order of court in Suit No. HOR/FHR/M/31/2025, issued on 17th December 2025, restraining the Force from proceeding with the enforcement of the Tinted Glass Permit policy pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit or the vacation of the order,” the statement said.
The police also confirmed that they had entered an appearance in the case, raised preliminary objections, and formally requested the vacation of the interim order.
The case has been adjourned to January 20, 2026, for further hearing.
“In line with constitutional obligations and respect for judicial authority, the Nigeria Police Force has entered appearance in the matter, raised preliminary objections, and formally applied for the vacation of the interim order. The court has adjourned the case to 20th January 2026 for further proceedings,” the statement added.
The statement noted that the suspension of enforcement is being carried out in strict adherence to the ongoing court order.
“Accordingly, and strictly in compliance with the subsisting court order, the Nigeria Police Force has placed the enforcement of the Tinted Glass Permit policy on hold nationwide, pending the decision of the court.”
Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun reaffirmed the Force’s commitment to upholding the rule of law while fulfilling its duty to protect lives and property.
“The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, PhD, NPM, affirms that the Nigeria Police Force remains resolute in upholding the rule of law while discharging its primary mandate of protecting lives and property. The Force will continue to deploy lawful, intelligence-driven strategies to address security challenges and safeguard public safety across the country,” the statement added.
The Force also assured members of the public that it would communicate further developments and issue clear guidance as appropriate, following the court’s determination of the matter, in the overriding interest of public order and national security.
The Federal High Court In Abuja on Tuesday ordered the remand of the Former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the hearing and determination of their bail application.
The trial judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, also ordered the remand of his co-dedendants, his son, Abubakar Malami, and one of his wives Bashir Asabe.
Justice Nwite made the order after taking arguments from the defence team led by Joseph Daudu (SAN) and the prosecution counsel Ekele Iheneacho (SAN).
Malami and his co-defendants are facing a 16-count money laundering charge preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The EFCC alleges that the defendants conspired at various times to conceal, retain and disguise the proceeds of unlawful activities running into several billions of naira.
According to the charge, the alleged offences span several years and include the use of companies and bank accounts to launder funds, the retention of cash as collateral for loans, and the acquisition of high-value properties in Abuja, Kano and other locations.
The commission further alleges that some of the offences were committed while Malami was serving as Attorney-General of the Federation, in breach of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011, as amended, and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022.
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has sent a veiled message to Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara, saying support for President Bola Tinubu alone will not guarantee any election ticket.
Wike made the statement on Sunday during a public outing in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State.
His remarks were widely seen as directed at Governor Fubara, amid lingering political crisis in the State.
The former Governor of Rivers State said political loyalty must be tested during difficult times, not after power has been secured.
He mocked those he described as late supporters of President Tinubu, insisting that sudden alignment would not earn political rewards.
He said: “So the issue is not whether you are supporting Tinubu. That one, we have taken too long, long… Yes, oh. So Tinubu’s issue is not an issue again. Yes. Do you understand me? Yes. Tinubu’s issue is that nobody should be coming here to tell a day. We are for Tinubu; I am against you. Who is for Tinubu University? (laughs) That cannot give you any ticket oh! (laughs again) Direct, direct. It will not. Direction. Direction.”
Wike stressed that his political camp stood with Tinubu when the decision was unpopular. He said that support given under pressure carries more weight than alignment after victory.
He also recalled how the Rivers State House of Assembly openly backed Tinubu early, long before the election outcome was certain.
According to him, some of those now making public declarations were absent during the critical period.
“The same people now who came to declare, put them to God… But they should declare they are saying it for a candidate. Yes. Don’t you see characters? (laughs) So I send the sword far ahead of them.”
Wike further spoke on governance and continuity. He defended projects and agreements initiated during his tenure as governor. He said it is often difficult for successors to acknowledge past efforts, even though government is a continuous process.
His comments come weeks after Governor Fubara formally aligned with the All Progressives Congress (APC), the party of President Tinubu.
The move followed months of political crisis in Rivers State, which led to federal intervention and a declaration of emergency rule.
Political watchers believe Wike’s remarks constitute a direct response to Fubara’s recent positioning as a key Tinubu ally in Rivers politics. Critics argue that Fubara’s support surfaced only after the political storm had settled.
Wike, who remains a dominant force in Rivers State politics despite serving in Abuja, appears to have drawn a clear line ahead of the 2027 elections.
He suggested that political tickets would be decided by proven loyalty, not convenience.
Videos from the event in Rumuche, Emohua, spread rapidly on social media. Many users described the speech as a coded warning to the governor.
As of press time, neither the Rivers State Government nor Wike’s media team had issued an official clarification.
The comments, however, suggest that the political rift between both camps is still active, despite earlier peace moves brokered at the national level.
