An Online Anonymous Group on Friday threatened to bomb Our Lady Queen of Apostles Catholic Church, Ilupeju, Lagos.
The Catholic Church was listed among the targeted places in Lagos to bomb by the unknown group.
The development generated panic among parishioners, who hurriedly left the church compound.
Daily Sun reports that the Special Bomb Disposal Unit has been drafted to the Catholic Church.
On arrival, the bomb unit combed the entire church compound while other security personnel kept watching over the church.
The Director of Social Communications, Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, Rev. Fr. Anthony Godonu, confirmed the bomb threat and said the police have been informed of it.
Godonu said the bomb threat was seen in an online Anonymous Group, and Our Lady Queen of Apostles Catholic Church, Illupeju, was listed.
Godonu revealed that Archbishop Martins has sent an urgent memo to parish priests to take precautionary measures immediately. He said parishioners and visitors would be screened on Sunday and regularly for safety’s sake.
He said, “There is an online media called Anonymous Group. One of our parishes was mentioned as a target for bombing. We had to report to the Lagos State Police Command.
“The Archbishop has been informed about the threat. He has directed all the parish priests to tighten security in their various Churches. We have to engage the police because it is their duty to handle the such threat.”
The director of social communications said he doesn’t know why the unknown gang suddenly focused on Catholic Churches.
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The sting operation in the Phase 4 section of the estate had led to a complete shutdown of the area, as armed intelligence personnel and others suspected to be American special forces swooped on a building where a middle-aged man was picked up.