UROMI - St. Pauls Anglican Church, Uromi, Edo State was on Tuesday reduced to rubbles by fire.
The fire which the church officials said started at about 12.30am, destroyed property running into millions of naira.
Official of the church have alleged that the burning was perpetrated by those they termed “evil people”.
Reacting to the inferno, the vicar of Esan Diocese, Ven. Joseph Osueni said he suspected human beings rather than accidental causes, since there has no electricity supply to the area in three days.
Ven. Osueni who said the act was condemnable by every standard, stated that God’s punishment await those behind the inferno.
He said that though there were disagreement and infighting in the church, no human being had the right to destroy God’s property or house.
“It is condemnable by every standard. No doubt, human beings did it, because I was told there’s been no light in this area for the past three days. So there is no question of electricity spark.
“There’s been one fighting, war, even the land was in dispute and judgment was given in favour of the church. I think there are spirits I can say are unforgiving who would go at any length to perpetrate what has happened, he lamented.
He however encouraged members of the church to believe that God would raise people to build his house like He is already doing with the new church building under construction.
The priest in charge of the church, Ven. Joseph Aisivbioje who was visibly devastated said the fire had already done it worst before efforts could be made to put it out.
He said church property, including altar choir robes, giant officers tables, plastic chairs, altar bible, cartons of wine, church documents , as well as the roof and walls of the church, were destroyed by the fire.
Though he could not name any suspect, Ven. Aisivbioje said, he had the believe it was the handiwork of “the devil or evil ones”.
On whether it was a fall out from the dispute in the church, the Anglican venerable said the land in dispute had long been settled, adding that the disputed land was not the land on which the church was built.
The secretary, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Esan North Local Government Area chapter, Rev. Stanley Okoduwa said the act was an affront on God almighty, and added that those behind it were fighting God directly.
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