Gone are the days when churches were seen as sacred places where crimes should not be committed. It seems those days have been lost in Nigeria.
Anthony Egbo, a 37-year-old security guard has been killed and beheaded on the premises of Living Faith Church located at Elebele Community in the Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa state.
The incident occurred early Thursday morning and eyewitnesses saw his mutilated body with his throat slit.
His remains were reportedly discovered by the Assistant Pastor of the church, according to Daily Sun.
The Youth President of the Elebele Community, Mr. Famous Egbo, said the remains of the victim were discovered at about 5.50 am on Thursday.
“When people saw him, he was beheaded. His throat was missing, and some people suspected that it may be a case of ritual killing,” he said.
When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Asinim Butswat confirmed the incident.
Butswat said a report from the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Kolo community stated that “the attack was at the head region and his throat was slit”.
David Oyedepo is the presiding Bishop of the Living Faith Church Worldwide, aka Winners’ Chapel, with thousands of branches nationwide.
The cleric who said this while warning his congregation to vote wisely in the 2023 general elections warned against focusing on political parties, saying that it will be more like a ticket to a higher level of suffering in Nigeria, adding that though he can never be part of the suffering as he has never been.
The senior pastor and founder of Salvation Ministries, Pastor David Ibiyeomie has boasted that he is too connected to suffer the way members of his church and Nigerians, in general, are suffering due to the bad leadership in the country.
The cleric who said this while warning his congregation to vote wisely in the 2023 general elections warned against focusing on political parties, saying that it will be more like a ticket to a higher level of suffering in Nigeria, adding that though he can never be part of the suffering as he has never been.
Pastor Ibiyeomie in a video of one of his sermons posted on YouTube on Friday, August 5 by a YouTuber, M632 TV, sarcastically said that if Nigerians vote wrong leaders into the government in 2023, one naira will rise to N5,000 per one dollar.
Quoting Ecclesiastics Chapter 10 verse 16 of the Christian Holy Bible, which says “Woe to you, o land, when your king is a child and your princes eat in the morning,” Ibiyeomie said any leader who will require the use of diapers, which could be due to old age or ill health, is dangerous.
The cleric said, “You have seen that this person cannot perform, yet you are saying party; party nonsense! I have told you, if you vote for a party, the way you will suffer, me, I will always be here. I’m telling you, I will not suffer with you. Nothing will make me suffer with you.
“I know too much that I can’t suffer with you but I can tell you, you know I’m a man of God. Try to make a mistake, the naira will turn to N5,000 per dollar. If you don’t want naira to turn to N5,000, better tell yourself what to do.”
“It says woe to you if you vote for people who have nothing in their head. If you vote for parties this time Nigerians, we will fold our hands and be watching you. All the things you are suffering, am I suffering with you? I’m too connected by covenant to suffer what you people are suffering but if you vote, it says woe to you if your leader is like a child.
That means any leader who will be using diapers is dangerous. It says woe to you oh land when your king is a child. It is the Bible, I’m not the one who said it. They used that verse for children, so if you have a leader who they use diapers for, woe to you. It is the Bible, am I the one that said it? Except you want to argue with the Bible,” he added.
According to the Man of God Philanthropist, from January 2023, No more new intakes for OPM overseas scholarship because of the over growing dollar rates.
However, he said: “all those we just paid there school fees last week for Cyprus that will be traveling this month of August and those for Germany that will be traveling September are the last New intakes for overseas scholarship.
“While others that are already in different universities around the world, we shall continue to pay your school fees and accommodations only till you graduate.”
He urged those on Oversee scholarship to look small job for their feeding and clothing.
Labor party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, on Friday night, prayed for Nigeria on his visit to Dunamis International Gospel Centre in Abuja.
Holding a Nigerian flag, while on his knees, he prayed for Nigeria saying, “God we have no other country except this one, God deliver us, God heal us, God librate us, we have no nation except this one, God deliver us.”
Obi was on the platform with Governor Emmanuel Udom of Akwa Ibom State and the First Lady of Delta State, Edith Okowa and a pastor, who also prayed for Nigeria.
However, the elected governor Jackson Ademola Adeleke said that he prayed in the mosque to congratulate the Muslim community of the state on the end of the Islamic year and the new year of Hijra, which will confirm his promise that he will lead the state without being religious biased.
Thugs on Friday disrupted the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration, CVR, exercise at St. Bridget Catholic Church in Ijesha, Surulere area of Lagos State.
The thugs carted away the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Continuous Voter Registration machines.
The incident happened less than 72 hours before the CVR’s closure by INEC.
Following the incident, the Parish Priest locked up the church while people scampered for safety.
An eyewitness who identified herself as Dr. Ambassador Princess Okojie Igbemudia said the thugs stormed the church and disrupted the exercise because those registering will vote for Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party.
It was learnt that the police had been deployed to the area to ensure peace and order.
The Christian Association of Nigeria on Wednesday dissociated itself from Bishops who attended the unveiling of the vice presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Kashim Shettima, saying they were desperados who went there for themselves.
The organisation said that although the presidential candidate of the APC, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was free to “hire mechanics and other artisans and sew clerical garments for them”, that effort would only add to their many ropes but would not change the need for fairness and justice.
The Vice President of CAN (19 Northern States and Abuja) and its chairman in Kaduna State, Rev. Joseph John Hayab, said this in an interview with journalists in Abuja.
He said, “The people we saw at the unveiling of Shettima paraded as Bishops are people who did not have enough time to learn how to wear Bishop garments. Take a closer look at their photo and you will see another Nollywood movie.
“CAN wonders why the desperation. First, a story was out claiming to have come from the Chairman of CAN Borno state only to be refuted. Secondly, there was another lie that BAT (Bola Ahmed Tinubu) and his running mate were on their way to meet CAN President one night. A meeting that was not true and was on a night that the CAN President was in Alabama USA attending Baptist World Alliance Conference of which he is the Vice President.
“Another desperation story was that they met Papa Adeboye which the RCCG later refuted. If Christians are not important why the desperation?
“BAT is free to hire mechanics and other artisans and sew clerical garments for them. An effort that will only add to their many ropes when the political exercise is over but will not change the need for fairness and justice that CAN is calling for.
“CAN appreciate that we are in a democracy, no need to do funny and dubious things just to prove a point because it will in the end bounce back. BAT team should simply do what is right and stop the drama.
A man who began walking from South Africa to Mecca has arrived the country just in time for hajj.
In a video making the rounds on social media, the man said he left South Africa on the 20th of August 2018 and then walked to Zimbabwe, Zambia, Tanzania, Kenya Sudan, Egypt, Gaza, Palestine where he stayed for a year and eight months due to the Coronavirus outbreak.
He said after the borders were reopened he continued his journey through Jordan, Medina and now he is in Mecca.
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The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye has directed all the Provinces of the church to launch ‘Operation show your Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC)’. Pastor Adeboye gave the directive to encourage members of the church to participate in the forthcoming elections in Nigeria.
The letter released by Intercontinental Youth Pastor/PICR, Belemina Obunge, and addressed to pastors in charge of provinces, reads, “We refer to the above and wish to kindly inform you that we have received a directive from the Mission Authority to ensure a high level of sensitization in all our parishes on the need for all our members to get their Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise.
“Based on the above, Provincial Hqtrs and Mega Parishes are encouraged to use their parish as a centre for one or two days to facilitate their members’ & interested neighbours’ registration considering the closeness of the deadline (June 30th, 2022) of the Continuous Voter Registration exercise.
“Provinces will be required to send a summarized report of parishes’ compliance with the above directive to the office of the undersigned, stating the number of adult members versus the number of PVCs counted.
“The report is expected on or before Tuesday 27th, June 2022 for onward compilation to the Mission Authority.”
Terrorists, locally dubbed as bandits, on Monday attacked the convoy of the intending pilgrims in Sokoto State from the Isa Local Government Area preparing to travel for Hajj on Tuesday (today).
The pilgrims were said to be converging in Sokoto to set off to the Holy Land on Tuesday by 7:30am for the 2022 hajj pilgrimage when they were attacked by the terrorists.
The bandits, according to Daily Trust, were said to have attacked the pilgrims’ convoy along Gundumi forest but there was no casualty reported yet as their security escorts reportedly repelled the attackers.
A resident of Isa town, Malam Sirajo, who confirmed the incident, said the intending pilgrims escaped but some of them were taken back to the palace of Sarkin Gobir Isa.
Sirajo said, “They attacked their convoy, which was being escorted by security operatives who were said to have engaged the bandits for some minutes. We learnt that some of the operatives sustained injuries, which I cannot verify.”
Also, the Permanent Secretary, Sokoto State Scholarship Board, Shehu Muhammad Dange, confirmed the incident but said he was not sure if there was any case of abduction. He said, “We have 21 intending pilgrims from Isa. But we are yet to ascertain their condition.”
Meanwhile, the acting Public Relations Officer of Sokoto State Police Command, ASP Ahmad Rufa’i, said he was not aware of the attack.
St. Moses Catholic Church, Robuh, Ungwan Aku in the Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State was attacked by unknown gunmen while worshippers were winding down the first mass.
In the course of the attack on the church, three worshippers were killed while many others were kidnapped by the gunmen.
One of the victims of the attack, according to DAILY POST’s finding, was brought to St. Gerard Catholic Hospital, Kaduna for medical attention.
The gunmen came to the church in their large numbers and started shooting sporadically at the worshippers.
In the course of the shooting, three persons were killed while others sustained various degrees of injuries and have all been rushed to hospitals for treatment.
A UK High Court has ordered the closure of the Salvation Proclaimer Ministries Limited, popularly known as SPAC Nation, run by Nigerian-born Tobi Adegboyega, in public interest.
In a statement on the UK government’s website on Friday, the court presided over by Juge Burton gave the order on June 9, 2022, with the Official Receiver appointed as liquidator.
The London-based church group was wound up after failing to properly account for more than £1.87 million of outgoings and operating with a lack of transparency.
The court heard that SPAC Nation was incorporated in 2012, as a charity set up to advance Christianity.
There was pandemonium on Sunday at St Ferdinand Catholic Church, Ipaja area of Lagos, following the arrest of a 42-year old man on a Naval cap, who went to the Church armed with a gun and other dangerous weapons during service.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the arrest of the suspect, Ono Macaulay, caused panic in the church as the worshippers suspected that he had come to the church to attack them during the service.
However, the security measures put in place by the Lagos Commissioner of Police, CP Abiodun Alabi, through the synergy between the public and Police saved the situation and the suspect was promptly arrested.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened on Sunday morning 12th June, 2022, at the church located at 215 Sector 6th Road, Ipaja area in Alimosho Local Government of Lagos State, when members of the church attended Sunday Mass for the day. According to the worshippers, the Police intelligence from Ipaja Division led by their DPO, CSP Tokunbo Aboniwonda, arrested the suspect, Macaulay with the gun and recovered other weapons as exhibits in the process.
He had already smuggled the weapons into the church before the eagle eyes of the security on duty in the church suspected and accosted him for routine search, which he initially resisted.
But when he realized that he will not escape, he surrendered and the Police recovered the weapons and immediately arrested him. He was then taken to the station for interrogation over the conduct.
The Police also recovered the Naval cap, which he wore when he was arrested at the church premises as exhibit.
The motive behind his action was not disclosed by the suspect, who claimed that he was a member of the church and had come to the church for Mass with the weapons. But the worshippers disagreed and insisted that he had another motive, which made him to come to the church with the weapons probably to attack the worshippers during the Mass.
During interrogation, the Police also discovered that he was not a Naval personnel and was wearing the cap as cover up to commit crime before he was eventually caught.
Having been found culpable, he was arraigned before the Ejigbo Magistrates Court on Tuesday for unlawful possession of a gun and other dangerous weapons including the Naval cap he wore while not a Naval personnel.
When he was arraigned, he pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, Inspector Benedict Aigbokhan, then asked the Court to give a date for hearing since he pleaded not guilty before Court to enable the Police to prove that he actually committed the alleged offence.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. K.A Ariyo, granted him bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum, who must have landed property within the jurisdiction of the Court.
He was remanded in the Correctional Centre at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when he will perfect his bail conditions while the matter was adjourned 10th July, 2022.
Before Macaulay was taken into custody, he had earlier told the Court that his father is from Delta State while his mother is from Lagos Island but he lives at Ipaja area of Lagos, where the incident happened.
He also revealed that the gun, which was found on him was an air gun he uses for hunting animals as his hobby and the other weapons were meant to protect himself because of insecurity in Nigeria. However, he did not explain why he took the items to the church on that day.
Some unknown gunmen have reportedly attacked the Celestial Church of Christ, Oshofa Parish at Wasimi, Ewekoro Local Government Area of Ogun State on Tuesday.
The gunmen were said to have kidnapped the Assistant Shepherd of the parish, Oluwaseun Ajose and a Sunday school teacher identified as Dagunro Ayobami.
Galaxy TV learnt that the two worshippers were dragged away by their abductors around 12 am on Tuesday.
The Shepherd of the church, Oluwatomisin Ehuwaojomo, confirmed the incident in a telephone conversation.
According to Ehuwaojomo, the abductors called him and demanded a ransom of N50 million for the release of the two church workers.
Contacted, the Ogun State Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, said he was yet to be briefed about the incident, promising to revert.
Galaxy TV News recalls that Oyeyemi had on several occasions warned religious organisations against organising night programmes.
Where such night services become extremely expedient, Oyeyemi advised that requests for police protection be sought by the organisers. • • • •
The Catholic Diocese of Ondo has stated that a mass burial for the victims of the terror attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, last Sunday will hold on Friday, June 17, 2022
The Catholic Diocese of Ondo has stated that a mass burial for the victims of the terror attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, last Sunday will hold on Friday, June 17, 2022
General overseer of Living Faith Church Worldwide, Bishop David Oyedepo has continued condemning the attack on a church in Owo, Ondo State by gunmen, saying his church cannot be attacked.
Gunmen killed no less than 40 persons during an attack on St Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State on June 5.
Oyedepo had earlier last week joined the public in condemning the incident.
However, at the church’s headquarters on Sunday, he dared terrorists to come to his church and see what becomes of them.
“Since these wicked devils showed up in Nigeria, not once have they succeeded to do havoc in our church. Not once!” He said.
“There is no madness that does not recognise fire. This is not by mouth, this is Jesus in the midst of His people. Can you imagine a dog going to rob a lion’s house?
“They say where are you going? He said I am a mad dog, I am going to deal with that lion today. Have you seen that before? They saw a banner and they said this is fire. Till Jesus returns, no demonic Fulani, no Islamite will enter our church.
“If they don’t die at entry, I am not sent by God. Under this covering, as ordained by God, come to church and relax, let me see that devil who will dare your coming in or going out. Look up, the lion is here. He will tear you to pierces.”
