• The protest staged by members of the church
• Sat Guru Maharaj Ji
The Faith and Miracle International Church (FMIC), Ibadan, has raised the alarm over an alleged armed attack, arson and assault at its new site, accusing followers of Sat Guru Maharaj Ji of invading the property and attacking workers.
The church said the incident occurred on Sunday night, September 20, 2026, at its Faith and Miracle City site beside Guru Maharaj Ji Village, along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, opposite Odo Ona Keke, Ibadan.
It alleged that armed men invaded the premises, shot at people, beat workers and set parts of the church property ablaze.
The allegation came amid an existing dispute over ownership and use of the land between the church and Maharaj Ji’s One Love Family.
On Monday, September 21, the church’s Founder and General Overseer, Prophet G.F. David, led members from the church’s headquarters at Alalubosa to the Eleyele Police Headquarters, Ibadan, where they protested the alleged attack despite heavy rainfall.
The protesters carried placards demanding government and security intervention and condemning what they described as an attack on their members and workers.
David alleged that the church had faced repeated harassment since commencing activities at the new site, including an earlier incident in which, he said, pepper was released into the church premises.
He said the earlier matter was taken to court rather than resolved through confrontation.
According to him, however, the situation escalated on Sunday night when armed men allegedly stormed the property.
“On Sunday 20th September, 2026 night, the thing entered into a crescendo. They brought gunmen, hired assassins to the land and they started shooting, beating our men and burning down our things,” David alleged.
He further alleged that the attackers displayed an AK-47 rifle and a pump-action firearm, adding that shots were fired at his photograph while the men allegedly demanded to know his whereabouts.
David said the development had heightened concerns over his safety and called on the government and security agencies to intervene.
“We are in a country of freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of association. Not one man can hinder that,” he said.
“We are here saying that this must stop! Tyranny should not be allowed, religious intolerance should not be allowed. We are in Nigeria, a free nation, a free people, where Muslims and Christians can live in harmony and peace.”
The Chairman of the church’s Building Committee, Dr Yomi Adenuga, said the disagreement over the property had persisted for some time, alleging repeated intimidation of church members.
Adenuga questioned why any disagreement over the land should result in violence, arguing that anyone with a grievance should seek legal redress.
“It didn’t just start today. It’s been a long time that this man has been terrorising us… If he has anything that is not OK with, he should go to the law,” he said.
The church alleged that nine armed men invaded the site, fired shots, assaulted people and set the church building and other property on fire.
It consequently urged the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies to investigate the incident, identify those responsible and take appropriate action, while providing protection for its members and workers.
Maharaj Ji: I am the one under threat
The allegations came only days after Sat Guru Maharaj Ji, leader of One Love Family, publicly raised his own alarm over an alleged threat to his life arising from the same land dispute.
In a September 19 report by a national newspaper, Maharaj Ji appealed to President Bola Tinubu, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and security agencies to intervene in the dispute, which he said involved a parcel of land acquired from the Alaladorin family for a Centre for Conflict Resolution.
Maharaj Ji alleged that a church led by a pastor identified as David had taken possession of part of the property, which he claimed was reserved for agricultural activities.
He said the dispute had been reported to the Oyo State Government and taken before the state Anti-Land Grabbers Commission, while the matter subsequently went to court and an appeal was awaiting hearing.
He also alleged that security personnel had been deployed during an attempt to access the disputed property and that members of his community were assaulted.
Maharaj Ji further claimed that threats had been made against his life and expressed concern over a church programme he said was tagged the “Wetie Crusade”, particularly because of the historical association of the word “Wetie” with political violence in the old Western Region.
He appealed for government intervention to prevent the dispute from degenerating into violence, stressing that he remained committed to peaceful resolution through lawful means.
The latest allegations have added another layer to a dispute that has already generated police, administrative and judicial attention.
Earlier in April, four devotees of Maharaj Ji were arraigned before a Magistrates’ Court in Ibadan over an alleged attack on worshippers at the church’s premises. They were accused of burning dry pepper in censers and directing the smoke towards worshippers during an Easter Monday service. The accused pleaded not guilty and were granted bail.
The latest claims by both sides remain allegations, with the circumstances surrounding Sunday’s reported violence requiring investigation by the relevant authorities.