CHURCHES in Ogun State held peaceful crossover and New Year services on Saturday and yesterday. Thousands of Christians trooped to their worship centres to end the outgone year and move into the New Year. Unlike the fear that pervaded some states, especially in the north due to attacks by members of the Boko Haram sect on churches on Christmas Day, no ugly incident was recorded in the state.

Adequate security measures were however put in place by the churches as soldiers were seen in their premises while others used either men of the State Security Services (SSS) or the police. Some of the security personnel were armed, who screened worshippers before they were allowed into the buildings.

At Winners’ Chapel on Quarry Road, Abeokuta, armed soldiers thoroughly screened all vehicles and persons before they were allowed into the church building or premises.

The situation was not entirely different at The Redeemed Christian Church of God, Mountain of Fire and Miracles, Foursquare, Presbyterian and Celestial Church of God.

In Kaduna yesterday, the Spiritual Father and Chairman of the Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church Worldwide, Samuel Abidoye, has urged the Federal Government to devise more practical means of tackling the perennial violence and the spate of bombings in the North.

Abidoye also urged religious leaders in Nigeria to join the government to fish out the perpetrators of terror rather shun inflammatory words.

He spoke with journalists after delivering his New Year message at the CSMC National Headquarters in Kaduna.

The cleric advised President Goodluck Jonathan to immediately overhaul and strengthen the intelligence arms of the nation’s security agencies, adding that the government should seek the assistance of international security experts and agencies to curb the menace.

-Guardian