CHURCHES AT WAR

The Redeemed Christian Church of God, Heaven's Gate parish and Praise Ever Ministry are at logger heads over a piece of land on Fagbile Road, Fagbile Estate, Ijegun area of Lagos State.

Both churches are said to hold their Sunday services simultaneously on the same ground and attempts by residents and other sympathisers to restore harmony not been fruitful.

Speaking with newsmen, leader of the Praise Ever Ministry, Evangelist Evelyn Calistus, said that she got the land on a lease since 2007 from the owner, one Mr. Yusuf Tijani. The trouble started in April, 2013 after Tijani apparently sold the land to the RCCG and she was asked to vacate the property by RCCG leadership despite the fact that her rent had not expired.

She claimed that the RCCG parish had frustrated members of her church as they sought to take possession of the land.

A petition written by the Festus Keyamo Chambers for the praise ever ministry, to the Lagos State Commissioner of Police and the General Overseer of the RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, alleged that "Evelyn (Calistus)had also been threatened that it is either she leaves the place alive or that they will carry her dead body away."

Evelyn added that she was making attempts to see the general overseer, Pastor Adeboye, as that would settle the problem once and for all.

However, the RCCG Chief Legal Officer, Pastor Ayodele Oladeji, who spoke for the church, said that the issue was being resolved.

On the threat to Calistu's life, he said, "I don't think they can threaten to kill her. I believe she is afraid. I have met with those people and seen them personally. RCCG does not stand for that."