The Lagos State government is cracking down on religious activities within its secretariat, demolishing three mosques and relocating churches in the state secretariat in Alausa, Ikeja over the weekend.
According to reports, Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State said the decision was made for security reasons. He said the recent spate of bombings and attacks on religious institutions made it necessary to safeguard the secretariat.
He asked worshipers to use the central mosque and the secretariat chapel for their prayers.
Three mosques, those close to the ministries of justice, finance and environment were completely demolished to rubble; another mosque behind the state Public Service Commission, PSC, was not demolished, but was locked away.
Reports say Muslims who worship at the affected mosques and are also members of the state executive council had made efforts to sway Fashola’s decision, which they deemed anti-Islam, but their pleas went unheeded.
