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Tag: Church

  • Gunmen invade Anambra church; kill couple, daughter

    Gunmen invade Anambra church; kill couple, daughter

    A middle-aged man, identified as Ken Ekwesianya and his wife have been killed by gunmen in Azia, Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra state.

    The deceased were reportedly murdered inside a church in the area with their daughter around 7pm on Thursday.

    The Anambra State Police Command spokesperson, Haruna Mohammed confirmed the development.

    He said investigation had commenced.

    According to him: “Yes, investigation is ongoing to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident and effort is being intensified in order to arrest perpetrators of the dastardly act and bring them to justice.”

  • Deeper Life School saga: Court orders mother of ‘assaulted’ boy to stop comments on social media

    Deeper Life School saga: Court orders mother of ‘assaulted’ boy to stop comments on social media

    The Magistrate Court sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state has reiterated its warning to Mrs. Deborah Archibong, mother of the ‘assaulted’ Deeper Life High School boy that she should desist from making comments or posting any material on the issue on social media.

    Recall that the Akwa Ibom State Police Command had two weeks ago arraigned seven persons, including minors in connection with the alleged sexual molestation and maltreatment of one Don-Davis Archibong, a student of DLHS, Uyo.

    They were arraigned on a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy to commit Felony to wit: indecent treatment of boys under fourteen and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 556 of the criminal code, cap.38, Vol.2. Laws of Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria, 2000.

    The minors were charged for unlawfully assaulting Don-Davies Archibong punishable under section 218(1) of the Criminal code, cap.38, vol.2 Laws of Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria, 2000, including section 362(1) of the Laws of Akwa Ibom State.

    But at the first appearance in Court on January 6, 2021 the Plaintiff, Mrs Deborah Archibong was warned against making social media comments on the issue since it was in the Court, her lawyer, Mr. David Okokon told reporters after the court sitting on Wednesday.

    Before now, Deborah’s video clips were seen on social media making several accusations over the alleged abuse of her son, Don-Davies Archibong.

    In the same vein, journalists were on Wednesday barred from covering the proceeding on the ongoing Deeper Life School crisis as the court held under close door.

    The Secretary of the Court, whose name could not be ascertained at press time, said since the matter was a juvenile case, nobody would be accepted to participate in the proceedings except the parties involved in the matter.

    Speaking with the Counsel to the plaintiff, Mr. David Okokon, shortly after proceedings, said, the court followed the standard of proceedings obtainable globally in the juvenile case, adding that it was the reason journalists were not allowed to participate.

    Okokon explained that the mother to the molested boy only gave her part of the story equivalent to what she had told the press, adding that the court later admitted her statement to the police as evidence.

    “Procedurally, since it was a juvenile court journalists were not allowed to observe the proceedings. A juvenile court deserves a jurisprudencial privacy it has.

    ”Why the court did this was because, the court knows that the press has every power to get the information from the lawyers, which I am here with you.

    “Ordinarily, the court had warned that parties should not address press because they want to allow the proceedings to be in the walls of the court in its merit, so that lawyers would not talk in and out of the matter and then confuse the public.

    “In terms of the proceedings, it was a normal trial and legal proceedings were carried out. The mother to the molested boy opened the floor and the told her story which was carried by the press. But the only difference is that this time she is in the court but there is no discrepancy in what she said earlier, and her statement to the police was admitted as her evidence,”he said.

    Also speaking, the Counsel to the defendant, Barr.Nojin Tairu, said; “by standard like this, when you have started a proceedings, you are not allowed to be making comments about the nitty-gritty of the matter.

    ”But I need to explain this to you so that we do not run foul of what is the standard practice everywhere in the world. At the end of the proceedings you will have all the fact and all that transpired in the Court.

    “The matter is subjudice it would not be so decent to be hearing other version of the matter.

    “The public’s right to know what happened in court is circumscribed by the practice procedure of the Court. It is pertinent to that this a special court proceedings involving child’s right procedure for trial. That was the reason why all person including men of the fourth realm were asked to leave the court premises.

    “This is actually a juvenile court, and the law and the court is weary of exposing some things that may have harmful effect on the children involved.

    ”There are three children in this matter, we need to be careful and sensitive. I can assure you that at the end the proceedings journalists would have the whole revelation regarding the matter,” he added.

    However, the case was adjourned to February 10, 2021 for continuation of hearing.

  • CAN issues fresh guidelines for church operations

    CAN issues fresh guidelines for church operations

    Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has issued fresh guidelines for church services and other religious programmes, due to the emergencies of second wave of COVID-19 across the country.

    CAN, in a statement released in Abuja, yesterday, said the new guidelines was in line with the advisory of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

    CAN’s General Secretary, Joseph Daramola, who signed the statement, said that changes/additions to the earlier guidelines became necessary following the significant rise in daily confirmed cases of COVID-19 and deaths too.

    He said: “In addition to previous guidelines, churches must ensure that no one is allowed entry in the church without face mask and all worshippers, including the worship leaders must wear face masks. There should be no exceptional cases. People who are sick or too old should stay at home, while temperature screening are done at every entry point to the Church.”

    “Churches must ensure adequate ventilation in halls of worship. Windows, and doors must be fully opened for air to circulate in and out freely, and if possible avoid the use of air conditioners

    “Attendance should not exceed one-third of the sitting capacity of every church. Alternatively, churches can make use of their educational facilities and multi purpose halls to avoid overcrowding in the main church auditorium.

    “Church auditorium should be clearly marked such that people sit and maintain two metres distance from each other. There should be no form of direct contact. Practices such as handshakes as peace signs are discouraged.

    “Sanitisers should be made available in all the rest rooms, while practices that require sharing of materials should be limited. Those using microphones must sanitise their hands before use, and worship places should be disinfected routinely, before and after worship.

    “Churches must ensure separate entry and exit points to avoid overcrowding at entry and exit points. Every church should make use of medical personnel to assist, and there should be consistent prayers for the end of the pandemic.”

    CAN, thus, encourage churches and Christians to adhere strictly to the protocols, assuring them that the pandemic will soon become history.

  • Covid-19 order: Oyedepo condemns regulation of churches, issues fresh warnings

    Covid-19 order: Oyedepo condemns regulation of churches, issues fresh warnings

    The Presiding Bishop of the Living Faith Church Worldwide aka Winners’ Chapel, David Oyedepo, has again reiterated his reservation for the manner in which the government prioritised protocols for the deadly disease, Covid-19 above spirituality.

    Speaking on Thursday night during a physical crossover service at the church’s headquarters in Canaanland, Ota, Ogun State, Oyedepo said, “When the church goes against a man, his destiny is finished. When the church goes against a system, that system will crash,”

    The cleric, who made the statement on a sermon tagged, ‘We Are On The Way To Our Promised Land’, said the devil is using the Covid-19 pandemic to come after the church.

    According to him, there is no online substitute for physical Christian fellowship, adding that the church has changed level.

    Oyedepo said, “Men and brethren, there is nothing in Covid-19. One of the governors was making some statements recently and said, ‘We have only had five cases since the noise began. So, where is Covid-19?’

    “One governor was also quoted as saying, ‘I saw people at National Identification Card area, no distancing, no nothing and how much more the church of God where there is order?’.

    “There is no Covid-19 in National Population Card Centre. There is no social distancing in the market. There is nowhere to wash hands or wash nose and even the officials who are in charge are also buying things there.

    “What I think they don’t know is that the church has changed level. When the church launches an attack against anyone or system, that system crashes. Thank God we have prevailed.”

  • Boko Haram hits Borno church on Christmas eve, kills six

    Boko Haram hits Borno church on Christmas eve, kills six

    Information reaching TheNewsGuru.com, TNG has it that some Boko Haram insurgents on Thursday (Christmas eve) attacked Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria Church (Church of the Brethren) at Pemi village in the Chibok Local Government Area of Borno State killing six.

    The Boko Haram insurgents reportedly burnt down the church where natives were busy preparing for Christmas celebrations.

    In the attack six cars and five houses belonging to the Church were razed, according to reports by The Cable.

    “The insurgents came in around 5:30 pm through Gogombi. They came in batches of two. The first came in with a motorcycle while the other came in heavy vehicles. As soon as they entered the village, they started shooting sporadically and towards the EYN church,” on of the survivours said.

    “Then they set it on fire. They also torched six cars and five other buildings around the church. Some of us ran to the bush, but unfortunately six people were killed in the attack. Christians were to observe Christmas prayers in the church this morning”, it added.

    However, the task force battalion reached around 8 pm, according to the report.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that the Department of State Services (DSS) had earlier raised alarm over a “plot to bomb some places” during the festive period.

  • Witchcraft in the church (2) – Femi Aribisala

    By Femi Aribisala

    Jide inherited a generator from his late “guardian.” He used it for business purposes by renting it out to people who needed it on special occasions. It so happened that the generator in his church was stolen. The pastor insisted that church-members should not be told about the theft; otherwise, they might conclude that God was not in the church. He asked Jide if the church could use his generator in the meantime.

     

    Den of Robbers

     

    Jide was agreeable to this: some of his best customers were churches. But one week, two weeks, three weeks, one month, after the church took his generator, Jide was not paid a dime. Two months, three months, four months afterwards; still no payment for the use of the generator. Finally, Jide summoned up courage to confront the pastor. If they would not pay him for the use of his generator, at least they should give it back to him.

     

    The pastor was very offended. He preached a fiery sermon in which he told the people in no uncertain terms that their destinies were tied to his church. “Don’t you know,” he asked menacingly, “we have the power to withhold your blessings?” The royal “we” referred to the pastor himself. Then he button-holed Jide after the service and went for the jugular: “Don’t you think you should give the church your generator?” he demanded.

     

    Jide was troubled and could not answer. He came to me to seek counsel as to what he should do. I immediately pointed out to him that a robbery was in progress. I said to him: “Jide, forget about having any discussion with your pastor. Hire a van and go and remove your generator from the church.”

     

    Gangs of priests

     

    In biblical days, Shechem was a “city of refuge” as well as a city of levites and priests. The cities of refuge were established to provide hiding-places for the guiltless refugee on the run for his life from a stubborn pursuer. But the priests banded together as a gang of robbers, and they waylaid the hapless on the way to Shechem.

     

    In effect, those appointed to teach the people the truth of God that they might live were the very ones who endangered their lives. Thus, Hosea observes that: “It used to be robbers who mugged pedestrians. Now it’s a gang of priests assaulting worshippers.” (Hosea 6:9).

     

    Today, pastors are no longer preoccupied with the rehabilitation of thieves. They are now single-minded in swindling members of their congregation.

     

    Devouring widows’ houses

     

    Do you know it is recorded in the bible that Jesus once sat down, as if in a cinema, and watched a robbery taking place in broad daylight? This robbery took place in the favourite den of robbers; the church. But you might not even be aware of the incident because pastors have done their level-best to distract Christians from realising exactly what was going on.

     

    Jesus was engaged in one of his favourite discourses; the hypocrisy, greed and covetousness of the religious elite. He says: “Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in long robes, love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts, who devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation.” (Mark 12:38-40).

     

    He then illustrated this by going to the treasury where he observed the rich putting in a lot of money in the offering-box. He also noticed a widow who came and dropped in just two pennies. Jesus pointed out that the poor widow gave much more than the rich because while they gave out of their abundance, she gave out of her poverty. Indeed, he noted, the two pennies she gave were everything she had. (Mark 12:41-44).

     

    Pastors, who Jesus refers to as thieves and robbers (John 10:8), use this scripture to rob people all the more; thereby confirming they will receive greater condemnation. They hold up this poor widow as an example to be emulated and tell their poor church-members to give all they have. Sometimes, they even tell them to empty their pockets into the offering-basket, promising them a big windfall from God if they do so.

     

    419 churches

     

    However, Jesus’ position is the exact opposite of this deception. The point he makes is that the widow was robbed. What could she have been told to make her give all her livelihood to the church? How is she supposed to live thereafter? Pastors who bewitch poor church-goers into doing this don’t care what happens to them. Moreover, they can always blame it on their lack of faith when their false promises on God’s behalf fail to materialise.

     

    Jesus’ demonstration shows the church system is immoral and downright wicked. One of the primary purposes for the collection of offerings should be to provide for the widows rather than taking the little they have in the name of God. Jesus was so disgusted with this practice that he prophesied that the temple, where this robbery took place, would soon be destroyed. He said: “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone shall be left upon another, that shall not be thrown down.” (Mark 13:2).

     

    This prophecy was fulfilled in A.D. 70, when the Roman army completely destroyed the Jerusalem temple. Even so shall God destroy every church that men have built and used to deceive and to extort money from the poor.

     

    Under the Mosaic Law, tithes were only collectible from those with land and livestock and not from widows and the poor. But today, the poor are the prey of money-grubbing pastors and televangelists. I once gave a big Sony television to my most industrious employee. But in no time whatsoever, it ended up in her pastor’s house. Don’t ask me how it got there.

     

    Witchcraft in the churches

     

    Listen carefully; if you are poor, don’t give any offerings. God will not hold it against you. If you are broke, don’t give any offerings. God knows you don’t have money to give. If you are in debt, don’t increase your indebtedness by investing in a “sacrificial offering” in hope of reaping a fantastic harvest. Offerings are not investments or lottery tickets; no matter what mercenary pastors preach. They are given: “according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have.” (2 Corinthians 8:12).

     

    What would make a poor widow give everything she has to a church? It can only be as a result of some form of manipulation. Many Christians don’t realise they have been bewitched by their pastors. The rich man can empty his pocket at the instance of a silver-tongued pastor and then jump into his Jeep after the service and drive home. But the poor woman who follows suit risks having to walk all the way back home.

     

    The message therefore becomes clear. Armed-robbers extort money from innocent victims by putting guns to their heads. Pastors rob widows of their houses by filling their heads with enticing words. The methods may be different but the objectives are the same. Both the armed-robber and the conniving pastor are working for the same master, and it is not Jesus Christ.

  • Witchcraft in the church – Femi Aribisala

    By Femi Aribisala

    In a video that went viral on social media, a bishop is ostensibly conducting deliverance on a group of teenage girls alleged to be witches. The girls kneel submissively in front of his holiness, the bishop. However, to his annoyance, one of them has the audacity to contradict him.

    The girl says defiantly: “I am not a witch. I am a witch for Jesus. My own witch is for Jesus.” This response angers the bishop no end. He shouts at her: “You are a foul devil. Do you know whom you are talking to?”

    Then, consumed with rage, he gives her a very hard slap. He then condemns her to damnation, even though she came to him for deliverance. He barks at her: “Jesus has no witches. You are a devil. You are not set for deliverance and you are free to go to hell!”

    Would the bishop have dared to slap the girl if she were Mike Tyson? I doubt it. Would he have slapped her if she were rich and powerful? Not likely. Would he have slapped her if she were one of the major benefactors of his church? Certainly not!

    The bishop then boasts in another video: “I slapped a witch here last year. She came back in February to apologise. She begged me to forgive her. She went back to her witchcraft company and they told her: ‘Ah, if the man says you are dead, you are dead. That small thing can kill you forever.’”

    The bishop implies he is so powerful; he can kill people eternally with his tongue. He is angry at a girl who claims to be a witch for Jesus. But he is oblivious to the fact that he is also a regular practitioner of witchcraft on the members of his congregation.

    Works of the flesh

    When most people think of witchcraft, they think essentially of the hocus-pocus practiced by “babalawos” and juju men. Little do they realise that witchcraft is essentially a work of the flesh. (Galatians 5:19-20).

    Witchcraft is the process of manipulating people for selfish and ungodly purposes. It is practiced by babies, parents, aunties, uncles, friends and other associates. It is also a manipulative device widely used in the churches by pastors to bring Christians under their control and, essentially, to empty their pockets.

    Can a Christian be bewitched? Yes indeed! Paul says: “O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified?” (Galatians 3:1).

    The Galatians were born again Christians and yet they were bewitched. How come? They were standing between two opinions. Like the people of Samaria in biblical days: “They feared the Lord yet served their own gods.” (2 Kings 17:33).

    Who were these other gods? They were their pastors. Their pastors bewitched them and enslaved them.

    Masters of illusion

     

    Illusion is everything. The pastor is presented as larger than life. He must admit to no human failings or weaknesses. He puts up a façade that his relationship with his wife is exemplary. He never admits to financial difficulties like ordinary mortals. If he falls sick, the congregation must not know about it.

     

    He crams certain choice scripture verses which he quotes dramatically on strategic occasions after having rehearsed them repeatedly at home. He presents himself as the example of the quintessential prophet of God; one who regularly hears from God and can therefore readily foretell the future.

     

    He does this by making periodic predictions. It does not really matter if they don’t come to pass. He can always blame that on the lack of faith of his church members. In any case, by the law of averages, if the prediction is sufficiently vague and the congregation sufficiently large, he is confident some people will believe they were fulfilled in their lives. He then makes sure those people testify before the church so that they can be used to validate the pastor’s divinity.

     

    “‘This is my warning to my people, says the Lord Almighty. ‘Don’t listen to these false prophets when they prophesy to you, filling you with futile hopes. They are making up everything they say. They do not speak for me.” (Jeremiah 23:16-17).

    In many churches, the fear of the pastor is the beginning of wisdom. Christians are simply scared to death of pastors. Many are required to worship them even more than God. They manipulate their congregants so effectively that they come to believe that to disobey the pastor is to disobey God.

    God describes these charlatans succinctly: “Among my people are found wicked men; they lie in wait as one who sets snares; they set a trap; they catch men. As a cage is full of birds, so their houses are full of deceit. Therefore, they have become great and grown rich. They have grown fat, they are sleek; Yes, they surpass the deeds of the wicked.” (Jeremiah 5:26-28).

    Many Christians are unaware that pastors brainwash them and put them under a spell. They habitually lay down curses, putting the fear of men on churchgoers. They casually drop stories of people who disagreed with them and subsequently died or had accidents, as the bishop above implies. But believers should know that it is all one big malarkey.

    Paul berated the Corinthian church about this: “For you put up with fools gladly, since you yourselves are wise! For you put up with it if one brings you into bondage, if one devours you, if one takes from you, if one exalts himself, if one strikes you on the face.” (2 Corinthians 11:20).

    Unrighteous decrees

    Emmanuel had had enough. His email to me from Abuja said as much. “That is the last branch of that church I will join. I am now convinced the church is a cult.”

    What was the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back for Emmanuel? The pastor came to church that Sunday morning and laid down a decree “ex cathedra.” “Anyone who leaves this church for another one is going to die.”

    Emmanuel went to the pastor and challenged him after the service. “How can you say something like that?’ he demanded. The pastor had a ready defence. “I am not the one saying it. That prophecy is from the General Overseer.”

    The pastor’s logic was impeccable. The General Overseer was an impregnable defence. Nobody in his right mind would dare question his judgment. If indeed it was the General Overseer who said it, then it must be from God himself.

    Emmanuel took the choice of least resistance. If the General Overseer is god, then he must resign from god’s church in order to find the one true God. So, resign he did. But Emmanuel did not die. Emmanuel is still alive. Emmanuel is a living testimony that the General Overseer practices witchcraft.

    The bible says: “Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.” (Exodus 22:18). That means today, don’t suffer him. Don’t tolerate him.

    God says: “Check these witches’ words against the Word of God! If their messages are different than mine, it is because I have not sent them; for they have no light or truth in them.” (Isaiah 8:20).

  • [Photos] We bombed Wike’s father’s church to get promotion in IPOB, say suspects

    [Photos] We bombed Wike’s father’s church to get promotion in IPOB, say suspects

    Three members of the Indigenous People of Biafra arrested by the police for allegedly detonating explosives in Governor Nyesom Wike’s father’s church in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, have confessed that they carried out the attack to get recognition in the proscribed group.

    The suspects spoke while being paraded before journalists by the state Commissioner of Police, Joseph Mukan, at the police headquarters along Moscow Road, Port Harcourt, on Thursday.

    Mukan recalled that on November 29, the command received a distress call from 25 Azikiwe Road that the Christian Universal Church Incorporated was attacked, adding that policemen were immediately drafted to the scene.

    “There was no life lost during the attack. Our security partners, the vigilantes, arrested these three suspects. We took them and they made useful confessions.

    “They claimed that they were six in number. They made confession that they were members of IPOB and that they were zoned to different parts of the state.

    “They are Progress Owudinjo, 37, from Etche, Rivers State; Apuro Victor, 25, from Ebonyi State; and John Okorie, 38, from Abia State.

    “They will soon be charged to court, while we are trailing their sponsors. IPOB assured them that if IPOB is achieved, they will be policy makers in the government,” Mukan added.

    One of the suspects, Owudinjo, confirmed their membership of IPOB, adding that they were contracted to carry out the attack.

    He said, “We got there in the night and we detonated the explosives. This is the first assignment I am carrying out since I joined IPOB. I have not killed before. I was told that if I did not join the operation that I would not get anything in the group.”

    Similarly, Victor said, “The whole thing was programmed. We were sent by one Chinedu. I don’t know where he came from. I am a member of IPOB but we were not programmed to kill anybody but to throw dynamite. Please, forgive me.”

  • Five arrested for robbing church, kidnapping member during night vigil in Ogun

    Five arrested for robbing church, kidnapping member during night vigil in Ogun

    A six – member robbery gang has invaded the Christ Apostolic Church at Gudugbe Alagbon area of Wasimi in Ewekoro Local Government Area of Ogun State, beating worshippers to stupor before dispossessing them of their valuables.

    The robbers, who struck during the vigil of the church, also abducted Mrs. Mojisola Atolagbe, a worshipper before escaping into the forest under the cover of darkness.

    The Police Public Relations Officer for the state, Abimbola Oyeyemi, who confirmed this incident on Sunday, said the incident happened around 1:3Oam on Friday.

    He whoever said five suspects have been arrested in connection with the pre-dawn attack.

    Abimbola, a Deputy Superintendent of Police(DSP), told The Nation the abducted woman has also been rescued safely.

    He named the suspects as Abubakar Ibrahim,38, Sulaiman Yusuf, 32, Ismail Yusuf 20, Umar Aliu, 26 and Yinusa Musa.

    He said they were arrested after Obisesan Seye, the Shepherd – In – Charge of the church, put a distress call to the Police that his church was under attack by six men armed with dangerous weapons.

    The spokesman explained that policemen attached to the Ewekoro Division stormed the scene, thoroughly combed the forest the robbers had ran into, smoked out five members of the gang and arrested them while the sixth suspect is being hunted.

    According to Abimbola, the victims of the attack have identified the five suspects as their attackers.

    He listed cutlass, two cudgels and assorted charms as items recovered from them, explaining they would be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department for further investigation as directed by the Commissioner of Police, Edward Ajogun.

  • BREAKING: Police arrest three suspects for attempting to bomb Wike’s father’s church

    BREAKING: Police arrest three suspects for attempting to bomb Wike’s father’s church

    The police have arrested three persons in connection with the attack on Christian Universal Church International belonging to the father of Rivers Governor, Nyesom Wike.

    The Police Public Relations Officer, Nnamdi Omoni, said the suspects were helping in investigations.

    He said: “I can confirm the attack on the Church and three suspects arrested in connection with the attack. They are helping us in our Investigation. The Church has been swept by the Bomb Department.

    Hoodlums numbering about five sneaked into the Christain Universal Church International on 25 Azikiwe Street Mile, 3 Diobu, on Saturday night and detonated the explosives suspected to be dynamite.

    It was gathered that a significant part of the church was damaged by the explosion, which created panic in the area.

    Though no group had claimed responsibility for the dastardly act, three of the miscreants were said to have been apprehended by a vigilant group and handed over the police.

    The operatives of Eagle crack, an outfit of the state police command, Mopol 19 and other security agencies were said to have cordoned off the area…