COVID-19: Why A/Ibom Govt Sealed Oyakhilome’s Church

For allegedly violating the coronavirus (COVID-19) guidelines for reopening of churches, the Akwa Ibom State Government, on Sunday, sealed the premises of the Christ Embassy in Uyo, the state capital.

The shut down of the church was contained in a statement by the Secretary to the state government, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem following reported attack on members of the Monitoring Team who visited the church to monitor compliance on Sunday.

While condemning the actions of the pastors and members of the church, the State Government in the statement said, “Today, Sunday 21 June, 2020, the Akwa Ibom State Government and Christian Association of Nigeria Monitoring Team, while on a routine compliance/inspection visit to the Christ Embassy Church, Nung Akpa Ime branch, State House of Assembly Road, off Nsikak Eduok Avenue to enforce the Akwa Ibom State government/Nigerian Centre for Disease Control, World Health Organisation, Christian Association Guidelines and Protocols adopted to prevent community spreading of the dreaded COVID-19 pandemic in Akwa Ibom State, were obstructed, attacked and brutalized by the Pastors and some members of the church.

“In response to this act of lawlessness by that church and in order to avoid the risk of community transmission of COVID-19 in Akwa Ibom State, the Christ Embassy Church building and premises are hereby sealed up with immediate effect till further notice.

“The suspected Pastors and relevant members of the church will be made to face the wrath of the law” the statement said.

It would be recalled that the Christ Embassy leaders had earlier in the week at a press conference in Uyo, rejected the COVID-19 guidelines issued by the government, saying it was not practicable and therefore unacceptable.

They said such guidelines cannot be binding on the church because it is not a member of the Christian Association of Nigeria, more so stakeholders were not widely consulted before the guild-lines were issued.