On Security matter in Nigeria, the Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Most Rev. Dr. Alfred Adewale Martins had come up with a set of rules to be followed by both the Church and Parishioners in the Archdiocese.
This may have been as a result of Parishioners in Lagos, calling for a beef up the Security of Churches in the Archdiocese.
The Archbishop therefore, in a Circular, directed and instructed the Churches in his Archdiocese on what measures to put in place to be at alert.
Read beneath the letter of the Archbishop:
Dear Msgrs., Very Rev. Frs., Rev. Frs., Brothers and Sisters in Christ.
LAGOS ARCHDIOCESAN SECURITY MEASURES
INTRODUCTION
Nigeria is currently faced with an unprecedented wave of different but overlapping security crises ranging from kidnapping to attack on communities by so-called bandits to extremist insurgencies and occupation of peoples' land. Almost every corner of the country has been hit by these acts of violence and crime. The height of it being the new threats and violence imposed on Churches as we can see from the attack at St. Francis, Owo. With every attack, human lives are lost or permanently damaged, properties are destroyed, and many times people are displaced with the resultant loss or diminishing of faith in the unity of the country.
It is for this reason that we directed the Deans to come together with priests, security experts and the faithful of their Deaneries to discuss and propose security measures that must guide us in our parishes and institutions. It is this consultation that has given rise to the following steps which we expect each parish and institution in our Archdiocese to follow faithfully.
1. PRAYERS
We are all aware, as the Scriptures have taught us, that unless the Lord keeps watch over the city, the watchman watches in vain. To this effect, we must commit our situation into the hands of God in prayers. Our prayers should be directed towards security but also towards good governance. We therefore ask that the following be put into effect: (a.) Holy Hour with Benediction on Sunday evenings should include praying the rosary as our weapon for seeking God's protection over all the faithful and for an end to insecurity in the land. (b), the meeting of all Associations should include at least a decade of the rosary for the intention of protection and an end to insecurity in the land. (c). We urge all families to offer their family rosary for the intention of security and protection. We call on the Marian devotion Associations e.g. Legion of Mary, Block Rosary Crusade etc. to mobilize their members to take the lead in praying the rosary for the intention of bringing insecurity to an end.
2. SECURITY EDUCATION
It is very important for parishioners and priests to be properly informed and sensitized on issues of security, its impending challenges and the need for security consciousness within and outside the church premises. Security is everyone's responsibility and so we all need to learn the principle of security consciousness: reporting suspicious looking strangers and strange movements of persons and vehicles.
3. SECURITY EQUIPMENT
Our security personnel must be provided with all the equipment and gadgets they need to function properly. These should include; non-intrusive body scanners, pepper sprays, metal detectors, hand scanners, security alarms, communication gadgets and other necessary equipment to facilitate effective security. We must be prepared to dedicate funds to the purchase of modern security equipment for our personnel in order to meet the challenges of insecurity in our time.
4. QUALITY OF SECURITY PERSONNEL
Security personnel must be able bodied individuals; men/women who are properly trained, motivated and well-remunerated. They should be given the required training by security experts so that they can get the skills needed to do their work. The Man of Order and Discipline (MOD) and other paramilitary organizations such as the Nigerian Legion and reputable security companies can be of help in this regard. Security experts need to be engaged to train them on the use of the security equipment and gadgets as well as strategies for effective security work.
5. INSTALLATION OF CCTV
We ask all parishes and church institutions, as a matter of necessity, to work towards the installation of functional and up-to-date Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) systems with night-vision. Those who already have must seek to upgrade their own as well and arrange to ensure that they have alert security personnel to man them. Even the security personnel cannot see everything, the CCTV would be able to capture every action in time.
6. PROPER SECURITY SEARCH AT THE GATE
Parishioners are required to submit themselves to security checks at the gates irrespective of how well known they may be. Metal detectors and body scanners should be used by security personnel. Parishioners should not bring big bags or any other item that may be suspicious with them to the Church. We equally appeal to everyone including car owners to submit to scrutiny and checks at the entrance. In this vein, parishes should discourage the sale of such items as food, snacks or drink around the gates or the fence of our parishes/institutions. If they consider it necessary, parishes may wish to make provisions for such items in officially designated places within the compound.
7. ENTRANCE AND EXIT GATES
Parishes must have clearly marked out entrance and exit gates. This will help the security personnel to focus more on the entrance gate at the beginning of any program and the exit at the end of it.
8. SECURITY COMMITTEE
We encourage the establishment or revamping of Parish Security committees to be made up of trusted parishioners who are either serving or retired security personnel and others. Apart from advising the Priests on security issues, they can also be positioned to sit at strategic places in the Church during Mass to watch out for suspicious movements.
9. PARISH/POLICE RELATIONSHIP
In places where it is feasible, we encourage Parish Priests to maintain a good working relationship with the relevant Police officers and other local security groups such as Vigilantes in their immediate environments. This is necessary in order to give the required access to officers that would facilitate quick response in case of any security breach or concern.
10. ARMED SECURITY PERSONNEL DURING CHURCH ACTIVITIES
We also ecommend that for Sunday Masses parish programs, parishes should secure the presence of armed security personnel to keep if watch and help to secure people against security risks/threats. However, caution should be tak real concerning the armed security personnel keeping reasonable distance from the faithful. Parishes may consider the possibility of getting licensed firearms in order to enhance security in their premises. The advice of Security Advisory Committee is extremely necessary in this regard.
11. PROPER LIGHTING OF PARISHES AND ENVIRONS
It is important that our Church premises, Fathers' Houses and other Church properties are properly illuminated with effective flood lights. This is to ensure that there are no dark corners particularly at night. All our parishes and institutions should be working on installation of solar- powered electricity to ensure more stable electricity supply.
We admonish those that have hedges or flowers in the compound or along their fences to keep them well-trimmed and clearly visible so that nothing can be hidden in them. Parishes and institutions are advised to examine whether they have need of increasing the height of their fences to ensure that the premises are not easily assailable.
12. DURATION OF CHURCH ACTIVITIES
We encourage parishes to ensure that programs and activities are kept simple and as short as possible in duration. All evening activities must end in good time to ensure that parishioners get to their homes before it is too late. We strongly advise that night vigils should be suspended for the time being
Finally, we continue to rely on the grace of God to bring an end to the insecurity that bedevils our country and pray for the restoration of peace and tranquility all over the country. Nonetheless, le as continue to do our best and contribute our own quota to fighting the menace of insecurity in our country.
May God bless us and protect us from all evil. Amen.
(Signed)
+Alfred Adewale Martins
Archbishop of Lagos
21st June, 2022
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