A Nigerian pastor, U.U. Uden, was arrested on Sunday March 29 by the country’s authorities for holding a service in contravention of an order banning religious gatherings of more than 50 people to curtail the spread of coronavirus pandemic.
Uden, who leads Jesus Reign Family Church located in the Apo District of Abuja, the nation’s capital, was taken into custody by a team of enforcement officers, for endangering the health of its members.
The Abuja authorities had announced some days ago that all social gatherings, especially at entertainment and worship centres, have been suspended indefinitely in order to contain the virus.
Nigeria has recorded about 97 coronavirus cases as of March 28 with one death and three others discharged.
Besides, about 7,000 people been infected with about 32,000 deaths recorded across the world since the disease broke out in China in December.
Uden reportedly refused to stop the service when the officers got to his church, prompting them to wait for him outside and apprehended him immediately he was done with the service. He was subsequently taken away.
On the previous day, the same enforcement officers had stopped a wedding ceremony being conducted by a parish of Believers’ Love World aka Christ Embassy in Abuja.