Sunday Service in Nigeria Now Comes With Firearms as Worshippers Turn to Self-Protection
Sunday Service in Nigeria Now Comes With Firearms as Worshippers Turn to Self-Protection
Sunday Service in Nigeria Now Comes With Firearms as Worshippers Turn to Self-Protection
In a growing sign of Nigeria’s deepening insecurity, worshippers attending Sunday service in parts of the country are now arriving at church armed, choosing personal protection as a necessary companion to their faith.
What used to be a peaceful weekly routine has slowly transformed into an unsettling scene: men and women stepping into the house of God with rifles slung over their shoulders, not out of defiance but out of fear. For many, this is the only way they feel safe enough to gather and worship.
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Residents say rising attacks on communities, churches, and travellers have forced ordinary citizens to take drastic measures. From rural villages to bustling towns, people now weigh the risks of attending service unarmed.
“This is the reality we face,” a worshipper shared. “We want to pray, but we also want to return home alive.”
Security analysts warn that the sight of civilians carrying firearms in religious spaces is a troubling indicator of public distrust in the nation’s security structure. Churches that were once sanctuaries of peace now reflect Nigeria’s struggle with banditry, kidnappings, and unpredictable violence.
Local leaders continue to call for urgent intervention, insisting that Nigerians should not have to choose between faith and safety. For many congregations, however, Sunday mornings will continue to be a mix of prayer, vigilance, and the quiet hope that one day, they can worship without fear.
Sunday Service in Nigeria Now Comes With Firearms as Worshippers Turn to Self-Protection
