By Aderemi Bamgbose
Okitipupa (Ondo State) – Churches in Okitipupa Local Government area of Ondo State, on Sunday, were under lock and key, in compliance with state government’s lockdown order, occasioned by the Coronavirus pandemic.
A Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), who went round the local government, observed that no Easter service was held in any of the churches in the council area.
NAN reports that Christ Apostolic Church, Foursquare Gospel Church, Anglican Church, Mountain of Fire Ministries, Methodist Church, Stella Maris Catholic Church, Winners Chapel and the Redeemed Christian Church of God did not to open shop for Easter celebrations.
NAN also reports that Christians in the council area observed the Easter celebrations, commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ, in their various houses, in compliance with the stay-at-home order of the government.
Pastor Mathew OgoOluwa, the Chairman, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Okitipupa chapter, told NAN on the telephone that Christians had been implored to ensure total compliance with government’s order in their own interest.
“We have earlier been instructed to open churches today for the Easter celebration after deliberations between Christian bodies and the government. But we were later instructed not to open our worship centres again because of the latest development on COVID-19. So we have no choice than to comply.
“Since it is all for our wellbeing, I urge all Christians to comply with all the precautionary measures prescribed by government and health professionals in order to contain the pandemic,” he said.
(NAN)
