A security alert by the United Nations Department of Safety and Security has hinted that Boko Haram may bomb Lagos State on January 1, 2012.
The
hint from its Field Security Coordination Officer, Mr. Ramesh Singh, on
Friday, urged Lagos residents to stay away from places of worship,
night clubs, cinemas and other crowded places.
Though unconfirmed, Singh said that the bomb threat was described by British Broadcasting Corporation Hausa Service as the “mother of all bombings.”
He called on Lagos residents to take necessary steps to secure their environment.
In
an electronic message, it said, “There is unconfirmed information which
has emanated from the Hausa community and has apparently been on the BBC Hausa Service.
“The information is citing some threats from the Boko Haram to bomb Lagos on January 1, and it is being termed in their local languages as ‘the mother of all bombings’.”
The
call to stay away from places of worship is, however, coming about 24
hours to the New Year’s Eve, when most Christians congregate to welcome a
new year.
Typically,
the population of all places of worship usually grow by at least 100
per cent on such nights, as people who seldom visit churches do so as a
tradition.
Findings
by our correspondent showed that a lot of people had already opted to
enter the anticipated year with family members in their homes, rather
than attending the traditional “cross-over services.”
It
was found that some Pentecostal churches with large congregation still
expected members to turn up for the service despite the bomb threat.
In
a different development, the Household of God Church, led by Pastor
Chris Okotie, on Friday reportedly announced the cancellation of its
planned watch night service so as not to expose members to Boko Haram attack.
Also,
the General Superintendent, the Deeper Christian Life Bible Church,
Pastor W. F. Kumuyi, on Friday, reviewed the time for watch night
service from the initial 9 pm kick-off time to 4 to 7 pm.
Some
other churches said they would end the watch night service immediately
after 12 midnight and expected members back for the New Year’s Day
service on Sunday morning, while others said there would be no other
service after the watch night service.
The
National Secretary, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Pastor Wale
Adefarasin, in a telephone interview, told our correspondent that he had
asked Christians to be vigilant as they attended the watch night
service and report any suspicious movement accordingly.
Lined-up watch night services in the parishes of the Redeemed Christian Church remain intact.
The
same applies to branches of the Church of God Mission, Daystar
Christian Centre, Lagos, Kingsway International Christian Centre, House
on the Rock and Winners Chapel, Ota, with members predominantly from
Lagos.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Police Command on Friday denied speculations that members of the Boko Haram sect were in the state.
The command’s spokesman, Mr. Samuel Jinadu, urged residents to disregard such speculations
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