The Lagos State Police Command has urged religious centres to embrace the use of technology to further strengthen security on their premises.
CSP Idowu Adedeji, the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, in charge of Area C Police Command, gave the advice at a security sensitisation meeting with some Christian clerics on Wednesday in Surulere Local Government Area of Lagos State.
He said that attacks on churches in recent times had increased to an alarming rate and therefore churches must consider measures to ensure the safety of worshippers.
“Places of worship have been attacked; pastors and priests have been kidnapped for either ransom or other reasons,” the police chief said.
Mr Adedeji said that among measures to detect criminal elements was the use of surveillance, scanners or metal detectors so as to help control access in churches.
“Search worshippers, install Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras, get scanners to detect people with any dangerous weapons hidden on their bodies.“Security of lives and property is an expensive business, try and get those gadgets, it may not be 100 per cent but it can minimise the risk.
“Involve your members in regular church sweeping by going around the compound to check and search for strange objects before the commencement of service.
“Police patrol teams move around every Sunday, but we cannot be physically present in all churches; we are constrained by our resources.
“Security is everybody’s business, Police alone cannot handle it. All hands must be on deck to tackle security issues.”
He then urged men of God to create security committees or teams in churches.
