By OGOCHUKWU ANIOKE, Abakaliki

A popular Ebonyi cleric, Bishop Dan Obinegbo, and 10 others have been arrested by the State Government COVID-19 enforcement officials for violating restriction orders.

They were arrested on the orders of Commissioner for Internal Security, Border Peace and Conflict Resolution, Stanley Emegha.

Bishop Obinegbo is the General Oversee of Christian Victory Prayer Ministry, in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital.

The Commissioner also announced the sealing of the church following what he described as act of disregard and non – adherence to COVIDD-19 protocol and preventive measures.

Speaking to The Nation after the arrest of the Bishop, Emegha said Governor Dave Umahi banned religious activities in the state but rescinded the decision following pleas from the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and other senior religious leaders.

He said: “One of the conditions is that service must begin and end between 8am to 12 noon as was agreed with the Christian bodies but regretably, today, some neighbours alerted us that the General Oversee of Christian Victory Prayer Ministry was as at 2pm still conducting service”.

He said he immediately moved to the church and “it was observed that the clergy was still conducting service and when we wanted to inquire from him why he should disobey government directive, he insisted we must wait until he is through with his deliverance ministry before he will attend to us”.

The Commissioner stated he had to order his immediate arrest and sealing of the church.

He added that in compliance to the COVID protocols, the Bishop was taken to the Abakaliki Township Staduim where he has been quarantined for 14 days.

He said that after quarantine, he would be prosecuted in line with the COVID law to serve as deterrent to others that would flout the state government directives. (The Nation)

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