Years after illegally erecting structures and occupying the same on their plots in Lagos, the Federal Housing Authority(FHA), on Sunday, rolled in the bulldozers and by the time dusts settled, 12 churches had been reduced to rubbles.
The churches were reportedly built on Illegal plot of lands.
The churches, located on 2nd Avenue in Festac were brought down to rubble on Sunday.
Deputy Director, Social Security and Intergovernmental Relations, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Lagos State, Pastor Barnabas Otoibhi, confirmed that a total of 12 churches were brought down.
He stated that the churches were demolished by the government after its pastors were accused of “encroachment and erecting illegal structures”.
According to a report by The Punch, one of the Church pastors, Joshua Obong of Gate of Righteousness Evangelical International Church, claimed that his church was “targeted”.
He questioned the rationale behind the demolition, which was executed only after 7-day notice.
Obong disclosed that he had run the church there for 18 years before the authorities destroyed it.
“The officials first came last week and started marking our buildings. After they were done, they left and returned two days later. That was when they gave us a seven-day notice, which expired last Wednesday.
“On Sunday morning, around 5am, we suddenly saw bulldozers at the First Gate, FESTAC Town. They got to my church at exactly 11am; they demolished all the churches along the road, except the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Communion Chapel and CPM, which they spared.”
Another pastor, William Ehiorenren described the incident as part of a plot to sell the lands to “moneybag”.
“They want to re-allocate the land and sell to moneybag and make millions. I have not seen where seven days would be given for people to vacate their property.”
The FHA is expected to address the demolition in a press conference on Wednesday.
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