The Akwa Ibom State Police command has arrested 10 Pastors for holding church services in the state, in defiance to Governor Emmanuel Udom’s stay-at-home order following the confirmation of Coronavirus cases in the state.
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) instructed churches not to hold services, but despite this directive, some churches in Eket defied the order and held services.
According to The Nation, the Eket branch pastor of the Deeper Life Bible Church and a pastor of the United African Evangelical church were among those arrested on Sunday morning by police officers from Eket Divisional police headquarters. They were found seated on a long bench with their Bibles, alongside other pastors.
The Divisional Police officer, Mr. Sunday Diggah, revealed that the pastors may be prosecuted for violating the State Government’s stay-at-home order. He also mentioned that the police have impounded many cars while enforcing the order, and these cars will be released to their owners after the two weeks movement restriction order.
Akwa Ibom State has recorded 5 cases of Coronavirus since the outbreak of the disease in the country.