Pastor arrested by Abia State COVID-19 taskforce for holding mid-week service, seals church

The pastor of Chapel of Answers Ministry, Jubilee Road, Aba has been arrested and the church sealed off by the Abia State Inter-Ministerial Committee on Covid-19.

 

The task force chairman, who is also the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Barrister Chris Ezem, told Aba residents and members of the church during the event on Wednesday, that it was necessary people obey government directives in order to stay safe from COVID-19.

 

Noting that the number of patients being infected with the virus was alarming, he said the state would not tolerate a breach of COVID-19 protocols any longer.

 

Barrister Chris Ezem, taskforce chairman said that they are not doing anything that is out of place as directives and protocols from the government regarding religious worship are very explicit. Which includes that religious worshippers can worship on Sundays; 50 persons per stream, and observe social distance and other protocols.

 

However, he made it clear that there should be no mid-week activities as he refers to Lagos State withdrawing from the opening of churches and Mosques because of recent events.

 

Ezem added that they can’t stand to start risking the lives of Abians and that is the more reason the government is making every effort to ensure that people are safe, noting that the numbers (of COVID-19 infected persons) are increasing by the day and it should worry everyone, we have to be alive to continue to worship.

 

Why would this church be going against the directives against the mid-week service?

 

His words regarding the pastor was that the lives of Abians are important to the state government and as such he is ordering that the pastor be prosecuted for violating government directives.