Living Faith Members Protest Church Demolition In Abuja,Condemn Molestation Of Pastor

Despite the Easter celebration worldwide, members of the Living Faith Church  on Sunday ,embarked on a peaceful demonstration over alleged demolition of the Gwagwalada parish  by the Department of Development Control, Federal Capital Development Authority.

Members of the Church also lamented on how a Senior Cleric simply identified as Pastor Caleb Olubiyi was molested by policemen attached to the demolition team.

Speaking with journalists at the demolished Church amid various placard carrying members, the Chairman Church Board, Elder SamuelOlalyeye, described the incident as barbaric, horrific, illegal and disheartening.

According to him, the bulldozers of the department of development control descended on the Church building without notice.

He decried that even though the Church was marked for demolition last two years, “no prior notice was given to the Church before the demolition on Wednesday.

Elder Olaleye  maintained that property title and other verifiable documents showing that the land belongs to Living Faith are in the custody of the Church, even as queried why the FCDA will decide to embark on a wicked and malicious act without recourse to due process.

The Church members gave the names of the three police officers who beat Pastor Olubiyi to pulp as J. C Audu, ASP Mathaias Agbo and Urento Monday.

Elder Olaleye said the resident pastor has been on hospital admission since Wednesday due to injuries he sustained as a result of the police brutality.

A legal adviser to the Church, Barrister Olurumotito George said the beating up of the man of God was uncalled for and highly condemnable.

Barrister George said from eye witness accounts and the narration of the wounded pastor on his hospital bed, the policemen gave Pastor Ogunbiyi the beating of his life because he attempted to take shots of the bulldozers doing the demolition.

“The pastor on hearing the news of the demolition quickly rushed to the scene.

“He was even on the other side of the road. So, when he brought out his phone to take photographs of the demolition, the policemen sighted him and rushed to him.

“The policemen enquired why he was snapping, and he told them he wanted to send it to our General Overseer, Pastor David Oyedepo.”