News
Police Allege Attack on Officers on Ban Enforcement by Church Members
Some members of the Victorious Army International Church, on Sunday, allegedly assaulted some police officers enforcing the Lagos State Government’s ban on gatherings more than 50 persons to curtail the spread of coronavirus.
It was gathered that members of the church’s branch on Acme Road in the Ogba area of the state also assaulted a TVC reporter, Ivy Kanu, and her cameraman.
PUNCH Metro learnt that some of the church members attacked the enforcement officers of the Rapid Response Squad, who were recording the church’s activities, and seized two mobile phones, a Samsung S8+ and a Samsung J4, from them.
The RRS said in a statement that one of the phones, a Samsung S8+, was still being held by the church while the Samsung J4 had been released.
The statement read in part, “The Commander, Lagos State Rapid Response Squad, DCP Olatunji Disu, this morning (Sunday) forced the management of the Victorious Army International Church to comply with the Lagos State Government’s directive limiting gatherings to 50 persons to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the state.
“The team got to the Acme Road branch of the church around 9am only to be locked out by the church, while officials of the church were seen running around to inform other members of the presence of the police.
“When the entrance gate to the church was opened, some belligerent church members, who saw one of the enforcement officers recording the church activities, attacked the officers and seized two mobile phones, a Samsung S8+ and a Samsung J4.
“The members equally attacked a TVC reporter, Ivy Kanu, and almost seized her phone. The TVCcameraman was equally attacked as they tried unsuccessfully to prevent him from recording around the church premises.
“Disu, in de-escalating the crisis, prevailed on the management of the church to discontinue the service and prune down the attendance in compliance with the state governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s directive.”
According to the RRS, there was total compliance in all the other places of worship visited as some churches had their services online, while others had banners on their entrances informing worshippers to go back home.
The Punch
President Bola Tinubu has insisted on his earlier directive ordering the withdrawal of police officers from very important persons (VIPs) in the country.
On November 23, Tinubu ordered the immediate withdrawal of police officers attached to VIPs across the country during a security meeting with the inspector-general of police (IGP), the chiefs of army and air staff, and the director-general of the Department of State Services (DSS).
The president said the move was aimed at boosting police presence in communities, especially remote areas where stations are understaffed and citizens remain vulnerable to attacks.
The president ordered Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the minister of interior, to make arrangements for the replacement of police officers by civil defence corps.
“If you have any problem because of the nature of your assignments, please contact the IGP and get my clearance,” he said.
“The National Security and Civil Defence Corps are trained for VIP protection, and they are armed too.
“We face challenges here and there of kidnapping, banditry and terrorism. We need all forces utilised. I know some people are exposed; we will make the exceptions. The civil defence is very much around.”
Tinubu said there is a need to mobilise the police appropriately due to the country’s security challenges.
Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Announcing his defection on Tuesday evening, Fubara said the move is a reciprocity to the overwhelming support, which the State has received from President Bola Tinubu.
The defection ends months of speculation about whether the governor would join the APC, which many believed was part of a peace agreement between him and the President.
Meanwhile, Fubara held a closed-door meeting with President Tinubu at the State House, Abuja, on Monday.
Reports said the governor arrived at around 5pm for the meeting dressed in a deep-blue long-sleeve shirt, black trousers, and a black flat cap.
Minutes earlier, Ebonyi State governor, Francis Nwifuru, had been ushered in for a separate engagement. Details of both meetings were not undisclosed.
But specifically, Fubara’s visit had raised suspicion to the rumour that he might defect from the PDP to the APC following political turbulence in Rivers State.
His announcement on Tuesday has confirmed the rumours.
The Federal High Court in Abuja has denied an application filed by Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of IPOB, seeking his transfer from the Sokoto Correctional Centre to a custodial facility within the Federal Capital Territory or the neighbouring Nasarawa State.
Kanu, represented by the Legal Aid Council, submitted an ex-parte application requesting an order that would direct the Federal Government or the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) to transfer him from the Sokoto facility to either the Kuje Custodial Centre in Abuja or the Keffi Custodial Centre in Nasarawa.
He requested a transfer to any custodial facility within the court’s jurisdiction, such as Suleja or Keffi, to allow him to effectively pursue his appeal.
However, Justice James Omotosho denied the request on Monday, stating that such an order could not be granted without first hearing from the Federal Government.
The judge directed Kanu to convert the ex-parte application into a motion on notice and serve all parties to allow fair hearing.
The case was subsequently fixed January 27, 2026, for the hearing of the motion.
