Akwa Ibom State Government has sealed off the building and premises of Christ Embassy Church in Uyo over alleged attack on the COVID-19 Monitoring Team by Pastors and members of the church.
A statement by the State Chairman of COVID-19 Management Committee and Secretary to the State Government, Dr Emmanuel Ekuwem, on Sunday, said “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 State Government therefore sealed the Church building and its premises to avoid the risk of community transmission of the virus,” the statement added.
According to Dr Ekuwem, “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.”
The statement further said “The suspected Pastors and relevant members of the church will be made to face the wrath of the law.”
