Four suspects, feared to be members of the radical Islamic sect, were arrested in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, when they attempted to gain entry into the St. Theresa Catholic Church during the second mass.
According to reports, the four persons, dressed in long white robes, failed to answer questions asked by the police officers placed on security detail for the church and raised suspicions.
Members of the church and a security man, speaking on the basis of anonymity, said the four men claimed they were from Kaduna and were in the Benue state capital city to visit an unidentified man.
Parish Priest, Rev. John Tomdom, who spoke to the press after the sermon said he was yet to recieve proper briefing of the arrests, adding that “there is no way I could have the knowledge of what was happening outside while I was inside the church.”
Mr. Alaribe Ejike, the state’s Police Public Relations Officer, confirmed the arrests but refuted claims that the men were members of the Boko Haram sect.
The Benue state government has recently beefed up security in the region following rumours that it was one of regions the sect planned to invade. Both religious leaders and government officials have taken measure to keep the state safe, adding security details at places of worship.
