Chaos over invasion of church during service in Ibadan

Members of Citizens Chapel International, beside Yinka Ayefele Music House, Challenge, Ibadan, Oyo State on Sunday, ran for safety when some people invaded their church premises with dangerous weapons and destroyed their property.

Speaking to Tribune Online, the shepherd in charge, Pastor Rotimi Asonibare, said shortly after service commenced, some people started throwing stones and bottles into the church and later besieged the place brandishing lethal weapons and telling us to vacate their land.

According to Pastor Asonibare, the land was duly acquired 10 years ago from one late Mr Thomas Ayodele, adding that they are in possession of all the land documents.

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He said: “Initially, Mr Thomas Ayodele sold the land to us for N5.5 million. But later the Ibadan Local Government Property (ILGP) came and told us that the land belonged to the organisation and they resold the land for N1 million. We have been able to pay only N200,000 when those who claimed to be the real owners of the land took the ILGP to court and told us to stop the payment till they came out of court.

“We are hereby appealing to the Oyo State government to intervene. We also want government to act fast to forestall a breakdown of law and order in the area.”