MFM Church Suspends All Night Vigils Over Security Concerns

LAGOS — Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries has announced the indefinite suspension of its regular all-night prayer vigils across Nigeria. The Punch confirmed the decision on Friday. The church cited deteriorating security conditions that make overnight gatherings of worshippers unsafe in many parts of the country.

MFM General Overseer Dr. Daniel Kolawole Olukoya said the decision was not taken lightly. He said all-night vigils are central to MFM’s spiritual identity and have been a cornerstone of the church’s prayer culture for decades. However, he said the safety of worshippers must take precedence over tradition.

“We cannot in good conscience ask our members to gather through the night when we cannot guarantee their safety going to and from the venue. The security situation in our country has made this difficult decision necessary,” Olukoya said in the announcement.

A Landmark Decision

MFM’s suspension of night vigils is one of the most concrete institutional responses yet to Nigeria’s insecurity crisis from the faith community. Churches across Nigeria have previously faced security threats, with the 2022 Owo church massacre being the most devastating single incident. However, the suspension of a regular nationwide program is unprecedented.

The decision follows CAN’s declaration of a state of emergency over insecurity and the designation of June 14 as Black Sunday. Together, these actions show that Nigeria’s Christian institutions are taking coordinated and increasingly bold positions on the security crisis.

Muslim organisations have also been adjusting security practices around mosques and Islamic gatherings. Several Friday prayers in high-risk areas have shifted to earlier times to ensure worshippers return home before dark. The MFM decision is the most visible example of a broader quiet adaptation by religious communities to a deteriorating security environment.