SAN FRANCISCO, February 16, (THEWILL) – The lingering crisis rocking one of the oldest Pentecostal church in Nigeria, Assemblies of God Church, has taken a dangerous twist as parishioners at a branch of the church have alleged military inclusion on behest of a breakaway faction which is head bent on coercing members to its side.
THEWILL learnt that men of the Nigerian Army 3 battalion, Effurun, near Warri, Delta state were allegedly induced by a faction of the church loyal to the embattled deputy General Superintendent of the church, Rev. Dr. Chidi Okoroafor to invade the Glory branch of the church in Warri, at No.15 Oti Street off Aka Avenue, Effurun last Sunday, while the Church was in full service.
THEWILL recalls that the Church has been embroiled in a leadership crisis since 2013 with Okoroafor, the deputy to the General Superintendent of the church, Rev. Prof Emeka, claiming that his faction had suspended the latter and ex-communicated him from the church, a situation which led to a litany of legal fireworks.
It was learnt that the estranged Okoroafor’s faction made attempts and sought a court order to restrain Emeka from parading himself as the GS of the church but failed as the matter, which went as far as the Supreme Court, was struck out.
THEWILL gathered that the development prompted many branches of the church to pitch their tent with the Emeka faction, an act that further escalated the crisis rocking the church and caused deeper factions among the branches.
Sources disclosed that the alleged invasion of the Warri branch of the church by soldiers was orchestrated by a breakaway group leader of the same church, one Rev. Friday Onoriode Amirah who is said to be loyal to the Okoroafor’s led faction of the church.
THEWILL was told that some soldiers of 3 Battalion of the Nigerian Army who were allegedly induced by the said Amirah allegedly stormed the Warri branch in two patrol vans to harass worshipers during the last Sunday service in a bid by Amirah to hijack the local church as head.
An eyewitness disclosed that the soldiers came in commando-like manner while the church was in session and made an order that the church should be closed down immediately or worshippers would be made to regret for disobeying the order.
“We had no option than to obey the military order in protection of our lives and everybody scampered away through the windows and back doors from the church for safely,” the source said.
Aggrieved members of the church told newsmen during a press conference, at the NUJ House in Warri, that Amirah was using thugs and military men to attack and harass worshipers in their branch to compel them to support Okoroafor’s faction.
Rev. Ogweche Blessing Bamaiyi, the district secretary of Assemblies of God in Warri, who confirmed the incident said; “There has been a power tussle at the headquarters of the church between the Rev. Professor Paul Emeka, the General Superintendent and his Deputy Rev. Dr. Chidi Okoroafor since 6th March, 2014.
“The national leadership crisis crept into the states and various branches of the church were divided into two factions, both factions led by the warring two leaders. In Warri, the factions have affected worshippers as they are loyal to their preferred factions.
“Our branch, Glory branch is with the original Assemblies of God led by Rev. Prof Emeka but the fake Assemblies of God faction led by Chidi Okoroafor has made everything possible to compel us to support his faction.”
Ogweche however appealed to the authorities in both the military and other relevant authorities to call the 3 battalion barracks to order from harassing and chasing their members away from service at gun point.
Meanwhile, the Commanding Officer, Nigerian Army Barracks, 3 Battalion, Lit Col Patrick Igwe Omoke has exonerated his men from alleged invasion of the church, claiming that his men only acted on a petition of an appeal for prompt intervention and enforcement of court order purportedly on behalf of the embattled Amirah.
In a petition obtained by THEWILL, counsel to registered trustees of Assemblies of God church, I.L Aitufes alleged that the crisis at the branch started after one Pastor Emmanuel Omole who had since been dismissed as pastor of the church allegedly refused to handle over the keys of the church building and other properties in his possession, prompting the petitioners to file an action in court restraining the said Omole from entering the church, denying members of the church or threatening the church members pending the hearing of the main application.
Story by Joe Ogbodu
