The police have cautioned churchgoers against disclosing sensitive personal information during testimonies, following the arrest of four church members over an alleged plot to kidnap a female cleric in Abuja.
The Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the Intelligence Response Team, Adamu Muazu, gave the warning on Thursday while parading the suspects, alleging that the planned abduction was linked to a testimony in which the cleric, identified as Prophetess Elizabeth, spoke about her achievements.
According to Muazu, the suspects allegedly planned to abduct the cleric after an evening church service.
He urged worshippers to exercise discretion when sharing details about their financial success and other personal accomplishments, warning that such information could attract criminals within their social or religious circles.
Muazu also called on church leaders, particularly those whose places of worship were located in isolated areas, to strengthen security measures and protect members attending evening services.
He warned against assuming that everyone attending religious gatherings had harmless intentions, stressing that criminals could exploit the trust and openness often associated with such environments.
“You can’t go to a church located on outskirts and you go to evening prayers and closing in the evening, coming down to your home after making testimony of what you have achieved in life,” he said.
The police officer added that worshippers should remain conscious of their surroundings rather than presume that everyone in the congregation shared the same religious values.
He said church leaders had a responsibility to assess potential security threats around their premises and advise members on how to protect themselves, especially when services ended late.
Muazu further urged churches that held evening programmes to pay attention to the safety of access roads, entrances and exits to prevent worshippers from being exposed to attacks.
“If church has to be located on outskirts, I believe the runners of those institutions must equally think of the security of their members and must advise them adequately,” he said.
The police officer expressed concern that some of the suspects allegedly connected to the kidnapping plot had close relationships with the intended victim and the church’s leadership.
“Surprisingly, this happened to be her driver, who worked with her. And the second suspect is a bodyguard to the head church pastor. They are all members of the same church,” Muazu said.
The alleged involvement of people within the victim’s immediate circle has raised concerns about the potential misuse of personal information and trusted relationships to facilitate criminal activities.
The police urged religious organisations to review their security arrangements and encourage members to adopt practical safety measures, particularly when travelling to and from services at night.