Ogun state police command has cautioned residents to stop observing prayers in the forests and other isolated places.
According to the police, some members of the public still engage in such act despite a series of warnings from security operatives.
In a statement released on Sunday by police spokesperson in the state, Abimbola Oyeyemi, the police said those who organise prayer sessions in forests are making themselves prey to kidnappers.
Oyeyemi said although residents have the right to freedom of religion, the present security situation is not favourable to organise prayer sessions in forests.
“The Ogun state police command has observed with great concern that, despite a series of warnings and security tips from the command, some members of the public are still in the habit of organizing prayer sessions in the forest, thereby making themselves easy prey for kidnappers,” the statement reads.
“In as much as the command is not oblivious of the right to freedom of religion, it is worthy of note that the present security situation in the country is not favorably disposed to organizing prayer sessions in isolated places.
“The command is working assiduously to get rid of the criminal elements who have taken kidnapping as business, and pending when they will be satisfactorily eliminated, the general public should desist from creating opportunities for them to operate.”