Closing
The temple was closed from mid June, 2009, because of violence in the Aba area.
The closing and evacuation followed mid-June gunfire in the area around the temple. In an e-mail to the Ogden Standard-Examiner a Nigeria temple worker reported an incident in which four gunmen were seen carrying AK-47s, with shooting reported in the area around the temple. Bullets from the shooting struck the guardhouse on the temple grounds.
Additionally, the city of Aba and its Nigerian state of Abia have seen a marked increase in reported kidnappings this year, including the 2007 kidnapping of four missionaries near Port Harcourt.
When asked about the reason for closing of the temple, LDS Church spokesman Scott Trotter said, "The safety of our temple visitors and workers is always our first concern. Incidents of violence in recent months in the area where the temple is situated are not necessarily related to the temple but could put church members at risk."
In 2010 Alexander A. Odume was called as president of the Aba Nigeria Temple, the first Nigerian to serve as temple president. The temple opened largely on the basis of people scheduling any endowment sessions. As of late 2011 the temple had resumed regular operations.
Read more about this topic: Aba Nigeria Temple
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