In response to the growing concern over the safety of its members, the leadership of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) Nigeria has issued a directive urging caution when traveling in the church’s branded vehicles. The church’s General Secretary, Pastor E. Mapur, made this call in a circular distributed to all CAC regional district supervisors and pastors on Friday.
The circular stipulates that each church assembly must employ the services of armed mobile police officers if they plan to use the church’s branded vehicles for transportation. The decision comes in light of the increasing incidents of kidnapping involving church members, particularly those traveling in the church’s branded vehicles.
The circular highlighted a recent incident involving the Christ Apostolic Church Oke-Igan choir, whose members were abducted in Ondo State, exemplifying the urgency of the situation. Pastor Mapur stressed, “The church cannot afford to see its members experiencing such a traumatic situation again.” The directive has been issued to all CAC assemblies, districts, zones, and DCCs.
The church leadership is earnestly urging all ministers within CAC to take this instruction with the utmost seriousness. The safety and well-being of its members are of paramount importance, and they hope to mitigate the risks associated with traveling in branded vehicles.
This directive comes in the wake of a harrowing incident on September 29, where approximately 25 choristers of the church were kidnapped by armed gunmen in Ifon, Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State. While the police were able to rescue eight of the abducted individuals within hours, the remaining members regained their freedom on Friday, October 6, following the payment of a ransom of N50 million by their families to the kidnappers. The church leadership is determined to prevent such distressing incidents from occurring in the future and prays for the continual protection of all its members and Nigerians at large.