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Transcript/Script((PLAYBOOK SLUG: Nigeria Church Security (TV)
HEADLINE: Nigerian Churches On Alert After Deadly Church Shooting
TEASER: Nigeria is seeing increasing attacks on churches.
PUBLISHED: 05/27/2022 at 8:44 pm
BYLINE: Timothy Obiezu
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Abuja, Nigeria
VIDEOGRAPHER: Emeka Gibson, Timothy Obiezu
PRODUCER:
SCRIPT EDITORS: DLJ, MPage
VIDEO SOURCE (S): All VOA
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV_x_ RADIO__
TRT: 3:19
VID APPROVED BY: mia
TYPE: TVPKG Jonathan Spier
UPDATE))
EDITORS NOTES.
((INTRO))
[[Nigerian churches are introducing armed security and entry searches after a deadly June 5 attack on a Catholic church blamed on the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP). Security experts fear the attack in Nigeria's southwest Ondo state means the threat of terrorism is spreading and could soon reach the capital. Timothy Obiezu reports from Abuja.]]
((Video/VOA - Shots of worshippers being screened - various, shots of Church service, Bishop John Praise Daniel))
((NARRATOR))
One by one worshippers are screened at this Abuja church before they are allowed into the premises for the service.
Church security and state police posted here conduct the searches.
It's a measure church authorities say has become necessary following a recent wave of attacks on churches in Nigeria.
Abuja’s police said they have often deployed officers to churches, mosques and public places. But not all public spaces have enjoyed this security.
((Bishop John Praise Daniel, Dominion Chapel International)) ((English, 17 secs))
"These days people just become crazy and going to churches and start shooting, so I think the church will get to that level of arming themselves against any attack that would come, that is self-defense and there's no law against self-defense."
((Video/VOA - Shots of St. Francis, shots of survivors in the hospital, Stephen-Chuks Okonye))
((NARRATOR))
On June 5th, heavily armed men invaded St. Francis Catholic Church in the southwest city of Owo and killed 40 worshippers using guns and explosives.
Eighty-seven people survived but suffered serious injuries. Some of them described the attack as “unimaginable horror.”
((Stephen-Chuks Okonye ))((English, secs))
"For such incident to have occurred, lasted for more than 20 minutes and there was no police presence, it means there's no security in this country. Security is one area the government has to look into."
((NAT SOUNDS - MASS BURIAL OF VICTIMS))
((Video/VOA - Shots of mass burial, shots of bodies in coffins, screenshots, Joseph Daramola))
((NARRATOR))
Nigerian authorities blamed the Islamic state of West African Province, or ISWAP, for the shooting, but some experts say that was a hasty conclusion.
Experts also pointed out that terrorism is spreading in Nigeria.
Last week, gunmen in the Kajuru area of the northern Kaduna state attacked two churches, killed three people and kidnapped dozens of others.
On Sunday, gunmen killed two Catholic priests in separate attacks in Kaduna and Edo states.
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) raised concerns about the attacks, criticized authorities for a lack of protection and urged church authorities to take security measures.
((Joseph Daramola, General Secretary Christian Association of Nigeria))((English, 20 secs))
"As a body, we vehemently disagree with whatever motive, whoever... or those who went to perpetrate such act [[Cutaways]] the church as a whole must be security conscious and be prepared. The next person to you is a suspect."
((Video/VOA - Shots of president Buhari, shots of man/families crying, end))
((NARRATOR))
Nigeria's president, Muhammadu Buhari, promised to address general insecurity when he won office in 2015.
With Buhari’s second and final term coming to an end, gruesome attacks like the one in Owo are certain to be a central issue in next year’s elections.
(Timothy Obiezu, for VOA News, Abuja, Nigeria)
NewsML Media TopicsReligion and Belief, Crime, Law and Justice
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateJune 27, 2022 20:47 EDT
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
