An aide to President Bola Tinubu has advised residents of Kwara State and Kogi State to temporarily suspend prayer gatherings held on mountains due to rising insecurity in the areas. Such prayer locations, popularly referred to as “Ori Oke” in Yoruba, are commonly visited by worshippers who believe mountain-top prayers bring them closer to God.
The appeal was made on Monday by Abiodun Essiet, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement for the North Central region. According to the statement, the presidential aide urged residents and religious groups in both states to halt Ori Oke prayer activities until the security situation improves.
The office noted that God can be worshipped anywhere, stressing that forests and mountainous areas have increasingly become hideouts for bandits and other criminal elements, thereby exposing worshippers to security threats. Kwara and Kogi states have witnessed repeated attacks by armed groups in recent times, with several incidents resulting in deaths and abductions across affected communities.
Source: https://www.premiumtimesng.com/
