The Office of the Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Community Engagement for the North Central has advised residents and religious groups in Kwara and Kogi states to suspend “Ori Oke” prayer meetings in forests and mountainous areas due to worsening insecurity.

The office warned that forests and remote mountain locations are increasingly being used as hideouts by bandits and other criminal elements, making such gatherings risky for worshippers.

This was contained in a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement for the North Central, Abiodun Essiet.

According to the statement, worshippers should temporarily avoid holding prayer gatherings in isolated locations until the security situation improves.

“The Office of the SSA to the President on Community Engagement, North Central, has appealed to residents and religious groups in Kwara and Kogi states to temporarily suspend Ori Oke prayer gatherings until the security situation in the affected areas stabilises,” the statement said.

The office stressed that worship could be conducted safely in other locations, noting that criminal groups have increasingly taken advantage of forests and mountainous terrains.

It also urged residents to support ongoing efforts by security agencies to maintain peace and protect lives across communities in the North Central region.

“People were also asked to cooperate with security agencies that are making significant efforts to maintain peace, protect lives, and ensure safety in communities across the North Central region,” the statement added.