The Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement, North Central, has called for the temporary suspension of Ori Oke prayer gatherings in parts of Kwara and Kogi states over worsening security concerns in the region.

The office said the appeal was necessitated by reports that forests and mountainous areas, where such prayer meetings are usually held, have increasingly become hideouts for bandits and other criminal elements, posing serious risks to worshippers and host communities.

In a statement issued by the SSA to the President on Community Engagement, North Central, Dr. Abiodun Essiet, the office stressed that God is omnipresent and can be worshipped anywhere, without necessarily gathering in isolated locations vulnerable to criminal attacks.

The statement urged residents, religious leaders and worshippers to prioritise safety and temporarily suspend such gatherings until security conditions in the affected areas improve.

It also appealed to citizens to support and cooperate with security agencies working to sustain peace, protect lives and strengthen security across communities in the North Central region.

According to the office, public vigilance and collective support remain essential in ongoing efforts to combat insecurity and safeguard lives and property. (Text, excluding headline: The Guardian)