The Ondo State Police Command has heightened security surveillance around major worship centres across the state in a renewed move to forestall security threats and safeguard lives.
The Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Lawal, on March 1, 2026, conducted on-the-spot assessments of selected religious centres to evaluate their level of compliance with established safety directives and overall preparedness against possible breaches.
This was contained in a statement issued on Sunday by the Police Public Relations Officer, Abayomi Jimoh, who said the monitoring exercise was in line with the state’s 2022 Executive Order mandating the installation of Closed-Circuit Television cameras in places of worship and other public facilities.
As part of the inspection, the police chief visited several prominent religious centres, including NASFAT Central Mosque, St. Stephen Anglican Church, St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Ansarudeen Central Mosque and Celestial Church of Christ, among others.
Lawal urged clerics and worship centre administrators to remain alert and strengthen internal security structures, stressing the need for effective screening measures and functional CCTV systems to aid surveillance and intelligence gathering.
He also appealed to residents to support security agencies with prompt and reliable information, noting that the protection of lives and property requires a shared commitment between the public and law enforcement authorities.
The commissioner further charged officers assigned to worship centres to maintain professionalism, vigilance and proactive engagement, assuring that the command would sustain efforts aimed at preserving peace and ensuring the safety of worshippers across the state.