Ondo State bans open-air religious meetings

The Ondo state government in southwestern Nigeria on Wednesday banned open-air religious meetings by both Christians and Muslims in a bid to pre-empt an outbreak of religious clashes, Nigeria's 'Vanguard' newspaper reported. State governor, Chief Adebayo Adefarati, and religious leaders in the state made the decision in a meeting during which the governor said "religious extremists" had invaded the state, the paper reported. He criticised Muslims in the state for displaying in front of the central mosque in the state capital Akure, "a highly inciting banner" which said, "Don't be deceived, Jesus is a Muslim". According to the governor, the banner was capable of provoking Christians.