The abrupt cancellation of a thanksgiving church service intended to honor the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) by the Caretaker Chairman of Guma Local Government Area in Benue State, Unongu Simon, has stirred concern across the state.
Originally slated for this Sunday, the thanksgiving service was scheduled to be followed by a lavish reception in honor of the SGF.
According to a broadcast aired on state-wide radio, Unongu, the Caretaker Chairman of Guma Council, instructed the NKST Church in Daudu, the chosen venue, to postpone the event due to security concerns.
Unongu emphasized the necessity for all public gatherings in the area to receive official approval from his office beforehand.
In response, the event organizers affirmed their determination to proceed with the planned thanksgiving service, adamantly asserting their right to do so.
Lazarus Asema, a member of the Central Planning Committee for the church service, stated, “The location and timing of the church service remain unchanged at NKST Church Daudu.”
Daudu, the host community, lies near Makurdi, the capital of Benue State, and houses an Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp resulting from attacks by herdsmen on local farming communities.
