The Akwa Ibom State government in collaboration with Christian Association of Nigeria CAN, Akwa Ibom State branch has three weeks ago agreed to open churches and allow all religious activities in the State only on strict compliance of laid down protocols and guidelines they designed
But Christ Embassy in full glare of monitoring agents deployed by the State government and CAN is alleged to have blatantly ignored the protocol and embarked on physical fisticuffs with the monitoring team today Sunday June 21,2020 prompting the State government to issue an order calling for the close down of all Christ Embassy churches in Akwa Ibom State
A Press Statement forwarded to 9News Nigeria from Akwa Ibom State government house in Uyo reads:
GOVERNMENT OF AKWA IBOM STATE
PRESS RELEASE
ATTACK ON COVID-19 MONITORING TEAM BY PASTORS AND MEMBERS OF CHRIST EMBASSY CHURCH, UYO
Today, Sunday 21 June, 2020, the Akwa Ibom State Government and Christian Association of Nigeria ( CAN) Monitoring Team, while on a routine compliance/inspection visit to the Christ Embassy Church, Nung Akpa Ime branch, State House of Assembly Road, off Nsikak Eduok Avenue to enforce the Akwa Ibom State government/Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC)/World Health Organisation (WHO)/Christian Association (CAN) Guidelines and Protocols adopted to prevent community spreading of the dreaded COVID-19 pandemic in Akwa Ibom State, were obstructed, attacked and brutalized by the Pastors and some members of the church.
In response to this act of lawlessness by that church and in order to avoid the risk of community transmission of COVID-19 in Akwa Ibom State, the Christ Embassy Church building and premises are hereby sealed up with immediate effect till further notice.
The suspected Pastors and relevant members of the church will be made to face the wrath of the law.
Signed
Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem
Secretary to State Government & Chairman of COVID-19 Management Committee, Akwa Ibom State
21st June 2020
