Lagos state government had last week declared that no gathering of more than 50 persons will be allowed in Lagos; also banned church and mosque gatherings of more than 25 persons.

According to the government, it was part of its struggles to restrict the spread of COVID-19 in the state.

However, some pastors did not comply with that instruction as some of them still held services on Sunday the 22nd of March 2020 in a manner that violated government instruction.

Following the alleged disobedience to the instruction, the Lagos State Police Command disclosed that three pastors were arrested. However, they were later released that same day.

Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, Lagos Command, Mohammed Ali, confirmed the arrest of the pastors. 

He said that one of the pastors arrested is from one of the Pentecostal Churches. He also disclosed that the pastors were not detained.

But they were urged to comply with the government’s directive to halt the additional spread of coronavirus.

Noting that even at the police headquarters, they did not hold their weekly prayers in the mosque.

He said, “We did not hold our weekly prayers in the mosque at the police headquarters because we had to comply with the directive of the Lagos State Government.“

“I also implore churches and other religious organisations to follow suit,” he added.

In another report, Lagos State Police Command revealed that most of the churches around Lagos adhered to the social distancing order.