Lagos Task Force men, accompanied by officials from the Ministry for Physical Planning and Urban Development (MPPUD), stormed the church to enforce an eviction ordered by the government.
The ministry demolished the building over allegation that there was no approval for the construction of the building.
The church structures, which officials of the church said had gulped over N100 million, were erected on a 10-acre land and comprised six auditoriums, offices, residential buildings and buildings for other uses.
The church was having its annual convention with worshippers from 12 foreign countries in attendant. The more than 10,000 worshippers that included old and pregnant women, children and men, were said to a have been at a loss on why the building was demolished when the church was holding its convention.
The bulldozers from the taskforce moved in immediately and three of the buildings were brought down before the traditional ruler of Epe, Oba Kamorudeen Ishola Animashaun, Chairman of Epe Local Government and other prominent citizens in the community intervened to stop the exercise.
Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr. Toyin Ayinde, alleged that there was no approval for the church building and that notices had been served on the church to vacate the land, claiming that the land fell within the proposed Lekki International Airport and, therefore, could not have been approved for such development.
“We have served them quit notices since 2011 and another one was served on them in November, which they didn’t comply with, said Ayinde, adding that the church officials were being economical with truth.
The church disputed the claims by government that it had no approval, while a document from the legal adviser to the church’s pastor, Enoch Idowu Aminu, Messrs Ibrahim A. Shittu and Co., of Probono Chamber, showed that the land was purchased from Ikujenya Okanlawon Ikuforiji Chieftaincy Family, with the address at 3, Ikujenya Street, Bado Oke, Epe, Lagos State, on 21 May, 2010.
The purchase, according to the cleric, was embarked upon as a result of the information contained in the Lagos State of Nigeria Official Gazette, No. 29, Volume No 27, September 1, 1994.
In page 274 of the gazette, it has as follows: Description- Afero Village: “All that parcel of land in Afero in Eti-Osa Local Government of Lagos State of Nigeria containing approximately area of 28.52 hectares, the boundaries of which are described below,” stated the bearings, length of metres and the co-ordinate measurements, among others, indicated that the land was excised and properly belonged to the original owner(s).
“Besides, we applied for regularisation of land title through Law Title International, the appointed Consultant to the Lagos State Government on Land Regularisation, on which there was no objection.
This was confirmed in the official receipt of payment, dated 23 November, 2011, in the sum of N1.64 million. The church claimed that the government lied by saying that the property fell within the proposed airport as other buildings in the same vicinity were not demolished.
Reacting to the demolition, the worshippers found it disheartening that the demolition was executed amid threats and intimidations by government officials
Pastors Johnson Samuel Ani from Burkina Faso, Tamomo Jose, from Benin Republic, David Amevoi from Ghana, Richmondson Shekesesay, from Sierra Leone, Mawu from Manuzikpi, Togo, all felt that the manner of the demolition was not properly handled.
Ten years old Camerounian girl, Miracle Bosco, was shocked when the building was pulled down, saying, “why is it that police came and destroy the house of God? I am sad because all the money our parents spent here has become a waste. Please, help us to beg the Governor to stop this demolition. God is not happy and I am not happy.”
Chief Isaac Shigbata, a Nigerian born pastor, residing, denounced the manner at which security agents invaded the church without any consideration for the safety of the people.
“What happened on that fateful day was not of any credit to any government. Laws were made for man and not the other way round. No matter what may be the situation, the timing was not only bad, but rather, the action was capable of breaching security. And not at this time that Nigeria, as a country is battling religious extremism in some parts of the country’. According to Pastor David Bangali from Liberia, “Nigeria is a country that many African countries are looking unto for guidance, especially, Lagos State. But activities of security agents last week was not palatable at all.”
Source - Kazeem Ugbodaga for PM News
39 comments:
HUhh!!!!Like seriously????
If really there was no approval for the church as Lagos State Govt. claims then its the right action to be taken, because the church as a body should be an example to the society and follow laid down laws, but if really Lagos State Govt. acted outside the law then its real bad indeed, they deserve to be sued if that's the case.
Wat am epistle.. Too long. But too bad an action
Shouldn't pastors be role models?
That's not right now! They should sue, people cannot just act that way. #wickedness
All these churches and their funny names. Plus there are so any of these sprawling churches along that route and on the way to Badore too.
! All I can say is *wow*...this is starnge tho!
Hahahahahaha.... Pure fire ministry.... Funny church
Marilyn oge
For the first time in a long Time, you've spoken well..
From a legal perspective, the demolition was wrong and ill- timed, even if legitimate! Very very very wrong of Lagos state government! There are legal procedures for this, but they were obviously not followed. Common sense and human consideration should have made the government wait to examine the Church's claim to the legitimacy of their building. Last last sef, what about the health and safety of the people in the service??? For the government to interrupt a service with demolition orders, even if the orders are legitimate is just terribly sad!
Thank you! I was gonna comment. But with that...no comment! Well said
Am sure all the religious warlords are already out of dia nests now!dia time has come.
Nyway d issue on ground is dicy..
If the govt didn't give dose lands den they either got it illegally or were duped by d locals.dats alwas d case!
The govt should have come to a compromise with the church,but seeing that the land in question was for a big and important project,d compromise option is out
but my question is why didn't dey Move out wen they were warned?am sure dey have been warned even before they finished that church!so that when govt reacts like this,they will start trying to get sentiments esp from the christian folks that d govt demolised a church!isn't it d bible that says give to caesar what is caesar's.....
If we can tell ourselves the truth and do the right thing in this country,things can be better!
But we are too biased manipulative and selfish den we blame govt for everyting!
Just lost of Words.
If by any chance d church owned dat land..omo sue!, merry christmas yall
I really don't like dis story at all, so does dat mean dat the Lagos state govt cannot offer a land just to build d house of God,and to worsen d case , they had to do dis shameful act when d service was goin on, guess they don't have d fear of God, I pray dat God forgives them,
The church owners thought those notices they got frm Govt was a joke! Fools.
*Linda. My suspecion is that LG St gov had a plan for the lot. A worker from the land dept got a bribe and promised the church to curcumvent the law. They should jail both the giver and receiver of the bribe. Thats the only way to avoid a similar problem in the future.
Lets assume there is a legitimate reason for the demolition.
But why wait until thousands of worshipers have gathered for a convention before you start.
Anonymous 8:26 pm, even said that, because there are lots of Churches along that route therefore the demolition can be justified.
It doesn't matter the degree of hatred and sentiments we bring into matters that concerns Christianity, nobody can stop the Church of Jesus Christ.
The Church doesn't react to persecution, not out of weakness but because She loves.
Be reminded that no government, nation or people have ever succeed in bringing the Church down.
Mind you, I am not angry with the demolition if it's legal but the action of the authority only communicated hatred and an attempt to smear the image of Christianity.
God forgive you all.
N.B. I can't help asking if a major mosque can be so demolish during friday prayers.
funny church name. God doesn't said we should remain adamant when we were warned the church proved sturborn and the government proved legitimate
Cnt believe fashola who is a lawyer can do dat,is vry sad
The land was advertised in a Lagos state newspaper in 1994. I get that.
The land was purchased from the chieftaincy family that owns it in 2010. I get that.
An official of the Lagos State Government on Land Regularization approved the church's ownership/land title in 2011.
Why the hell did the Lagos State go in and demolish the church???
And on a Sunday no less!
***Lush
If it was a mosque they had demolished by now Boko Haram would have been plotting series of bombings
Exactly! Church is where they can exercise foolish powers. God is watching them, Lilly livered people, try touching a mosque now.
Surprised people weren't this sentimental when Fashola demolished two big mosques in Alausa! Some of d Libers were even praising Fash for the job welldone. Some people, including Linda here, can be so funny! Bigotry at best!
Set of religious pigots in the house here oh! See the emotional way PM News strewn up the story sef. Nigeria will start getting beta when start doing d right thing. Pronto!
There is no way a whole church would want to spend such funds on building a church without making sure they got all the required documentation.. Fashola has now turned to a mini god and he does only the things that brings pains to the heart of lagosians, its only the ones that will favor them and bring instant funds into his pocket that will always be effective. Fashola your own is finished in this state i know you don't care because you have acquired wealth but some people could still have money but will not be happy to enjoy it...Ur pains will come unto you in such a way that you will die like a rat. Bastard!!!!
This bad what they should have done is to stop the construction and demand that all necessary approval obtained before its continuation. However if it does not meet the standard then u destroy. 100Million naira aint a small money.
o yee
Obviously, d commisioner has not d fear of God in him...he couldn't av been more stupid wt dat act.
Dis is so wicked of that commissioner and his thugs..
Tinubu has told fashola he like that land to build his personal estate or hotel that is why fashola order bulldozer to pull it down.there are always urban planning officials patroling lagos metropolise everyday that would have stop the initial building foundation if truly the land was own by lagos govt
gradually a well spiritually discerning mind can see the handwriting that the symbol that fashola represents simply that of anti - Christ .first -he banned public preaching in his BRT buses ,no one commented.secondly-he moved against open air preaching through the ban on noise pollution .now he moved to demolish a church auditorium ,Gods worship center .like Gordon would say "if PFN ,CAN would not talk,(anyway they are asleep) i will talk.what boko ha-ram could not cme down south to do ,fashola is doing officially. This is an unprovoked assault on Christendom ,watch out there is more to come from this wolf in sheep skin.forget about all he's been doing ,they have their own agenda .why is Lagos state under perpetual rulership of Muslims from marwa to tinubu ,tinubu to fashola ,the only christian that would have broken that chain was murdered (Funsho Williams)before he could get to the state house.
hahahahaha soooo happy I pray he should demolish all the churches, awon oloriburuku won fe she business
Riiiiiiiide on Fashola I am fully behind U
Yes another Adeboye wannabe they wants to be buying private jets. werey people good job Govnor
they deserve it, all they they care about is business and making money, Fashola pkls demolish Redeem churches too abeg
haaaa smiles
Now I can sleep peacefully.
The demolition was a bought over by other pastors. I saw it as a matter of politics among other church founders along that road.
Whosoever plan or have hand to demolish temple of God has already been demolished.
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