The Gombe State Government has promised its institutional backing to the local Christian community following a catastrophic nocturnal fire that completely razed the primary auditorium of the ECWA Gospel Church, situated off Ashaka Road within the state capital. The incident destroyed valuable electronics, structural roofing, furniture, and critical pastoral offices, leaving the congregation entirely displaced without an immediate venue for weekly fellowship. Leading a senior administrative delegation to the scene, Deputy Governor Dr. Manassah Daniel Jatau expressed profound sympathy over the structural loss and called for urgent collaborative aid to restore the sanctuary.

Emphasizing the vital role that spiritual institutions play in driving social cohesion and community development, the Deputy Governor urged political leaders, non-governmental organizations, and public-spirited philanthropists to pull resources together for the rebuilding process. He instructed the administrative leadership of the affected ministry to carry out a comprehensive technical and financial audit of the ruined property to properly guide upcoming state interventions. Additionally, the administration advised regional faith-based groups to enforce stringent maintenance protocols on their structural power grids and ensure all appliances are disconnected when buildings are vacant to mitigate future electrical fire hazards.

Initial on-site assessments conducted by the resident minister, Rev. Dr. Gideon Danbauchi, indicate that the inferno likely originated from an electrical malfunction connected to one of the facility’s power supply configurations. Representatives from the regional Christian Association of Nigeria alongside high-ranking evangelical trustees have classified the disaster as a major setback that exceeds the independent financial capability of the local assembly. Consequently, recovery committees have commenced formal damage documentation to attract institutional relief and rebuild the facility to safe, modern engineering standards.

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The Surulere Local Council has promised to make things right after demolishing the Deeper Life Bible Church at 33 Aina Street, Lawanson, Lagos. The church had full legal ownership of the land, backed by proper documents and a court order.

Church Leaders Demand Justice

During a meeting, Council Chairman Bamidele Sulaiman Yusuf met with church officials. The delegation included Senior Advocate of Nigeria Tayo Okufolati and Group Pastor Alfred Ogene. They described the demolition as illegal and disrespectful to the court.

Pastor Bashiru Adesina, who leads the Yoruba congregation at the church, said the building was taken down overnight without warning. He added that church property was damaged and worshippers left stranded.

Council Builds Shops After Demolition

Soon after the church was demolished, the council began laying foundations for shops on the same site. This move caused outrage. Church leaders saw it as a land grab, especially since the matter was still in court.

Pastor Ogene said the church strongly opposed the council’s actions. He stressed that the demolition was unfair, disrespectful, and unlawful. Lawyer Tayo Okufolati added that the church had chosen peace, even though the council ignored the ongoing legal case.

Police Step In, Promise Peaceful Resolution

The Nigerian Police urged both sides to stay calm and work together to resolve the issue. Chairman Yusuf said he would meet with other authorities and give feedback within a week.

CAN Condemns Attack on Religious Freedom

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) also reacted to the incident. CAN representative Christian Nwogu said the matter goes beyond one church. He called it a threat to religious freedom and pledged CAN’s support to protect churches across the country.

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Deeper Life Bible Church and the Surulere Local Government in Lagos have started talks to resolve the conflict over the demolition of the church’s branch in Lawanson.

A meeting was held on Wednesday between the church leaders, Surulere LGA Chairman Sulaimon Bamidele, and representatives of the Christian Association of Nigeria. The Nigeria Police facilitated the meeting to ease tensions after the demolition.

The church said the demolition was illegal and went against a court order. According to the church, Lagos State agencies and Surulere council officials destroyed the building at 36 Aina Street, Lawanson, despite a legal order to stop all actions.

District Pastor Israel Adeagbo said the church had been at the location since 2007. In January 2024, the local government gave notice of plans to remove the building. This happened even though the matter was still in court.

Just two days after the demolition, the government began building a shopping complex on the land. This move sparked anger among the church members.

After the meeting, Group Pastor Alfred Oghene said the talks were peaceful and focused on finding a way forward. He said the church was hurt by the demolition but willing to talk.

He confirmed that the local government promised to consult its legal team and respond soon. The church is waiting for a clear proposal in writing or by other means.

The church’s lawyer, Taiwo Kupolati, SAN, said one of their main requests was a new place of worship. He also asked that all construction on the land stop until the matter is resolved.

Kupolati said the chairman of the local government agreed to return with a plan. He promised to consider justice, peace, and the well-being of the worshippers. Until then, no new work should take place on the land.

He stressed that the church wants peace, not a fight. They only want to protect their right to worship where they have been for 18 years. He added that he believed the chairman would be fair.

Kupolati said the meeting gave hope that an agreement could be reached. The key point, he said, is that the church must not be left without a place to worship.

Christian Nwogu, a representative of the Christian Association of Nigeria, was also at the meeting. He said the court had already ordered that the church be restored. He urged the government to respect the ruling.

The church hopes for a peaceful solution soon. Talks will continue in the coming days.

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