The Nigerian Presidency has called on residents and religious groups in Kwara and Kogi states to temporarily halt “Ori Oke” prayer gatherings, citing worsening security conditions in the remote mountainous and forested areas where such retreats are commonly held.
The appeal was issued on Monday by Abiodun Essiet, the Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Community Engagement (North Central), through a statement from his office.
“The Office of the SSA to the President on Community Engagement, North Central, has appealed to residents and religious groups in Kwara and Kogi States to temporarily suspend Ori Oke prayer gatherings until the security situation in the affected areas stabilises,” the statement read.
“Ori Oke” is a Yoruba expression meaning “mountain top.” The gatherings refer to prayer retreats held on hillsides and in forest clearings, where worshippers convene for spiritual sessions, believing that praying in such elevated or secluded settings deepens their closeness to God.
The advisory warned that those locations have increasingly become hideouts for bandits and criminal elements. “God is omnipotent and can be worshipped anywhere,” the statement noted, adding that “congregating in remote areas is now exposing worshippers and surrounding communities to unnecessary risk.”
The call comes against the backdrop of a series of violent incidents in Nigeria’s North Central region. The Kwara Police Command recently revealed that gunmen kidnapped ten individuals from the Yashikira Emir’s palace in the state’s Baruten Local Government Area. The region has also seen attacks on places of worship, including a bandit assault on worshippers at a Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku, Kwara State, which prompted President Tinubu to postpone an international trip in November 2025 to focus on the security response.
The Presidency also appealed for cooperation from religious leaders and residents in both states, noting that security agencies are actively working to stabilise vulnerable communities across the North Central region. Residents were urged to remain alert and share timely information with security agencies.
Citizens were called upon to support and cooperate with security agencies working to sustain peace and protect lives across the region.
The Presidency described the advisory as a precautionary measure designed to safeguard worshippers while ongoing security operations continue in forests and remote locations often used for large gatherings.
The statement did not specify a timeline for when the suspension might be lifted, tying any resumption to an improvement in the prevailing security situation.
