Anglican Diocese champions safer churches at security summit

By Vera Wisdom-Bassey

The Diocese of Lagos, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) has called on churches, communities and citizens to embrace a culture of security consciousness as part of efforts to build safer places of worship and a more secure society.

The charge was made during the maiden edition of the Diocese’s 2026 Security Summit held in Lagos with the theme, “Effective Policing of the Churches.” The one-day event brought together church leaders, security experts and law enforcement officials to discuss practical measures for improving safety within churches and surrounding communities.

Speaking at the summit, Bishop of the Diocese of Lagos, Rt. Rev. Ifedola Senasu Gabriel Okupevi, said the initiative was designed to promote a safer church environment while encouraging members of the public to become more security conscious.

According to the bishop, rising insecurity across the country makes it imperative for churches to take proactive steps to safeguard lives and property.

“The essence of this summit is to have a safer church, a safer society and to ensure that everybody becomes security conscious.”

Okupevi lamented the growing wave of insecurity, noting that many lives had been lost to preventable incidents.

“The days are evil, and many things are happening under our watch. We do not want to continue losing lives. We want everyone who comes into our churches to feel safe, and we also want our communities to enjoy peace and security.”

The bishop described security as a ministry that requires the participation of everyone, saying peace and safety are essential for national development.

He announced that the security summit would become a regular programme of the diocese, expressing hope that similar initiatives would continue to promote peace in Lagos and across Nigeria.

“We want peace in Nigeria, in Lagos, in our diocese and everywhere in the country. This is only the beginning.”

Okupevi urged Christians to remain vigilant, stressing that while believers trust in God’s protection, they also have a responsibility to safeguard their environment.

He encouraged churches to deploy volunteers, particularly youths, to monitor activities during worship services and report suspicious movements, adding that even affordable security measures could make significant differences.

Delivering a lecture at the summit, Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, Tijani Fatai, commended the Diocese for organizing the programme, describing security as a collective responsibility rather than the exclusive duty of law enforcement agencies.

Although the police have the constitutional mandate to protect lives and property, he said effective security can only be achieved through collaboration among government, religious institutions, families and citizens.

“The police cannot do it alone. The church cannot do it alone. Government has a role, families have a role and every citizen has a responsibility to play.”

Fatai described churches as unique institutions where people gather to worship, seek guidance, build families and strengthen moral values, making them potential targets that require deliberate security planning.

According to the police commissioner, security begins with everyday decisions such as paying attention to one’s surroundings, speaking up when necessary and refusing to ignore suspicious activities.

Managing Director of Transworld Security, Dr. (Mrs.) Victoria Ekhomu, emphasized the need for churches to adopt comprehensive security management systems capable of preventing and responding to emergencies.

She said her presentation focused on emerging security threats facing places of worship and practical measures churches could implement to protect worshippers.

Among the recommendations were the installation and proper maintenance of functional CCTV surveillance systems, access control mechanisms, trained security personnel and clearly defined visitor management procedures.

Ekhomu also advised churches to educate clergy, workers and members on their individual security responsibilities while remaining alert to suspicious behaviour.

She stressed the importance of emergency preparedness, including the provision of medical facilities or emergency response plans to handle health-related incidents during church services.

According to her, technology should be integrated into church security systems to improve surveillance and communication, while churches should continue to combine practical security measures with spiritual vigilance.

She expressed optimism that the knowledge shared during the summit would enable participating churches to strengthen their security architecture and create safer worship environments.

Ekhomu further urged churches across Nigeria to adopt similar safety measures, saying proactive planning remains one of the most effective ways of protecting lives while ensuring worshippers can gather in peace.