is barely not up to two days since the face-off between the Akwa Ibom State COVID-19 Monitoring / Task Force Team and Christ Embassy Church In Uyo which led to the sealing up of the church was heard of. Today, another has happened again and this is the demolition of a church building by the COVID-19 Monitoring / Task Force Team.

It could be recalled that In a bid to manage and control the spread of the dreaded COVID-19 virus which has plagued our world today, and has killed scores of people all over the world, that the Akwa Ibom State Government had set up a monitoring / task force team in the state to ensure compliance with the World Health Organization (WHO), Nigeria Center For Disease and Control (NCDC) and Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) guidelines and protocols (safety measures). The team had among other duties do visit different places of religious and social gatherings to ensure compliance with the laid down protocols and guidelines.

The demolition of the church structure by the monitoring team, it was gathered is not totally unconnected to their non-compliance with the laid down guidelines and protocols of ; social distancing, use of face mask, and prohibition of gathering of more than twenty persons. The church's name as gathered is; Knowledge of God Ministry, AKA; The Arena of Peace and Power, is located at Believers Assembly Road, off Oron Road, behind Dakkada Office, Uyo with Victor Elijah as the senior prophet.

From the pictures and videos made available by a Facebook user; Ifreke Nsewo Connoisseur, members of the church are seen rushing out of the building as a caterpillar is seen demolishing the church structure which was partly made from plywood and a canopy set outside. It was also gathered that some members and pastors of the church were arrested.

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What right does the state have to do this though?

Kobojunkie:
What right does the state have to do this though?

This church ignored guidelines to stop the spread of covid-19.

That's a pretty good reason to get rid of an organization.

If they don't care about the health and well-being of their members then what good are they to the society?

mmsen:

This church ignored guidelines to stop the spread of covid-19.
That's a pretty good reason to get rid of an organization.
If they don't care about the health and well-being of their members then what good are they to the society?

You can penalize an organization or revoke its business license but destroy private property? That is barbaric and probably not legal even in Akwa Ibom

Kobojunkie:
You can penalize an organization or revoke its business license but destroy private property? That is barbaric and probably not legal even in Akwa Ibom

It isn't barbaric at all. Barbaric is allowing a virus to spread because of superstitious beliefs.

You can't levy fines in this part of the world because collecting said fines becomes an issue. The only recourse is to remove the structure. That will send the message that they should adhere to public health measures.

Afterall, all land belongs to the state.

mmsen:
It isn't barbaric at all. Barbaric is allowing a virus to spread because of superstitious beliefs.

Nah! It is barbaric.

mmsen:
You can't levy fines in this part of the world because collecting said fines becomes an issue. The only recourse is to remove the structure. That will send the message that they should adhere to public health measures.

Afterall, all land belongs to the state.

I disagree! If it can be done in a place like Lagos State, surely it can be done in even Akwa Ibom.

All land may belong to the state but surely the state government has no legal right, even in Akwa Ibom, to bulldoze through any community it so chooses without first compensating the landowners.

mmsen:


It isn't barbaric at all. Barbaric is allowing a virus to spread because of superstitious beliefs.

You can't levy fines in this part of the world because collecting said fines becomes an issue. The only recourse is to remove the structure. That will send the message that they should adhere to public health measures.

Afterall, all land belongs to the state.

What they did is wrong.

Kobojunkie:
Nah! It is barbaric.
I disagree! If it can be done in a place like Lagos State, surely it can be done in even Akwa Ibom.

All land may belong to the state but surely the state government has no legal right, even in Akwa Ibom, to bulldoze through any community it so chooses without first compensating the landowners.

Lagos also demolishes churches when they are consistently destructive in their behavior.

I'm sure this church was warned more than three times about their conduct and chose to ignore the state authorities.

What you are showing is a mentality typical of Nigerians - they cry about the lack of law and order, of enforcement of rules and then when the authorities levy punishments on repeat offenders you cry about that too. The way many of you reason is absurd.

It wasn't so long ago that a church in Uyo collapsed, killing over 100 people because they ignored the state's warnings and guidelines regarding buildings but you Nigerians are hard headed so please, keep doing what you've been doing...The world will not miss you when you've eventually wiped yourselves out because of your gross stupidity.

Kobojunkie:
You can penalize an organization or revoke its business license but destroy private property? That is barbaric and probably not legal even in Akwa Ibom

You revoke their license they will take you to court and stay there doing appeal after nonsensical appeal while they continue their services, spreading covid-19 in the process.

If that is what you want then I am in favor. I have long since accepted that you people cannot reason properly and are thus a hindrance to everything and everyone that you touch.

mmsen:
Lagos also demolishes churches when they are consistently destructive in their behavior.

Destruction of private property is wrong no matter who does it.

mmsen:
I'm sure this church was warned more than three times about their conduct and chose to ignore the state authorities.

Whether the church was warned umpteen times or not is not an excuse for the state to take the law into its hands in such a manner. If fines and levies have failed in the past, what about arresting the property owner or, better yet, seizing the property until fines are paid off?
Destruction of private property is wrong!

mmsen:
What you are showing is a mentality typical of Nigerians - they cry about the lack of law and order, of enforcement of rules and then when the authorities levy punishments on repeat offenders you cry about that too.

I have yet to see you show that the law of the land allows for the Government to carry out such barbaric destruction. Governments are guided by laws as well, and I am not certain of the existence of laws anywhere Nigeria that allows the government to destroy private property, even for the reasons given.

mmsen:
It wasn't so long ago that a church in Uyo collapsed, killing over 100 people because they ignored the state's warnings and guidelines regarding buildings but you Nigerians are hard headed so please, keep doing what you've been doing...The world will not miss you when you've eventually wiped yourselves out because of your gross stupidity.

Building collapse is no reason for the government to take it upon itself to destroy private property whenever it chooses. There are laws that even Governments are expected to obey.

Kobojunkie:
You can penalize an organization or revoke its business license but destroy private property? That is barbaric and probably not legal even in Akwa Ibom

My brother know what you are saying ,in lagos my cousin friends house was destroy simply because the felt the house was built in a propose industrial zone..imagine the reason and this action make you ask, why come now to do it, why didn't they they inform house owners before coming to destroy person hard earned building. And is even worst if you are not a yoruba person.

Kobojunkie:
Destruction of private property is wrong no matter who does it.
Whether the church was warned umpteen times or not is not an excuse for the state to take the law into its hands in such a manner. If fines and levies have failed in the past, what about arresting the property owner or, better yet, seizing the property until fines are paid off?
Destruction of private property is wrong!
I have yet to see you show that the law of the land allows for the Government to carry out such barbaric destruction. Governments are guided by laws as well, and I am not certain of the existence of laws anywhere Nigeria that allows the government to destroy private property, even for the reasons given.

Building collapse is no reason for the government to take it upon itself to destroy private property whenever it chooses. There are laws that even Governments are expected to obey.

The building collapse is yet another tragic example of how little these churches care about the welfare of their sheep.

Destruction of property is not outright wrong. It can and should be used in an environment where the people are so accustomed to being illogical that they will put their own lives in danger just so that they can sing and jump around like toddlers.

mmsen:
You revoke their license they will take you to court and stay there doing appeal after nonsensical appeal while they continue their services, spreading covid-19 in the process.

So? That is what due process is all about. In Nigeria, there is a Police department to enforce laws. It is not up to the government to take the law into its own hands.

mmsen:
If that is what you want then I am in favor. I have long since accepted that you people cannot reason properly and are thus a hindrance to everything and everyone that you touch.

You people? Cut the bull!

mmsen:
The building collapse is yet another tragic example of how little these churches care about the welfare of their sheep.

Again, a building collapse is no reason for the government to flout the law of the land! There is never a valid enough reason for such extremes.

mmsen:
Destruction of property is not outright wrong. It can and should be used in an environment where the people are so accustomed to being illogical that they will put their own lives in danger just so that they can sing and jump around like toddlers.

Destruction of property is outright wrong, especially when the law says it is, even as far government is concerned. Two wrongs can never make a right. It has been a Nigerian problem to date. The government has no place above the law!

Kobojunkie:
So? That is what due process is all about. In Nigeria, there is a Police department to enforce laws. It is not up to the government to take the law into its own hands.
You people? Cut the bull!

You say "So" to the spread of virus that requires good sanitation, basic hygiene and common sense to defeat it in a society that resents all of those?

Hilarious. Thank you for proving my point about 'you people'.

And the police were most certainly on site while the errant 'business' premises were being demolished. The laws are the government's word and bond with the people that they promise to uphold. There is no such thing as the government taking the law into its own hands, it's already there...

mmsen:
You say "So" to the spread of virus that requires good sanitation, basic hygiene and common sense to defeat it in a society that resents all of those?
Hilarious.

Destruction of private property has absolutely nothing to do with good sanitation, nor does it have anything to do with common sense.

mmsen:
And the police were most certainly on site while the errant 'business' premises were being demolished. The laws are the government's word and bond with the people that they promise to uphold. There is no such thing as the government taking the law into its own hands, it's already there...

Sure, the police could have been at the site since but still no reason why the law of the land should be flouted.

The law of the land is not the word of the Government, not even in Nigeria. The Nigerian constitution is clear on that. If you have never studied your own constitution, then I suggest you get to it.

Kobojunkie:
Destruction of private property has absolutely nothing to do with good sanitation, nor does it have anything to do with common sense.
Sure, the police could have been at the site since but still no reason why the law of the land should be flouted.

The law of the land is not the word of the Government, not even in Nigeria. The Nigerian constitution is clear on that. If you have never studied your own constitution, then I suggest you get to it.

It's not mine.

mmsen:

It's not mine.

No wonder!

Kobojunkie:
No wonder!

No wonder I can think in a straight line.

Unlike some people.

mmsen:
No wonder I can think in a straight line.
Unlike some people.

Nothing straight about anything you have said so far on this issue. All you have done is show your disdain for the rights of the people in this.

mmsen:


It's not mine.

But Kobojunkie is right, there's no law which states that the end result of not adhering to social distancing in a church warrants it to be demolished. Hitherto, if the state government had sent a bill to the HoA, got it passed and signed that any religious organisation contravening it will have its premises demolished, then fine and good. Anyone who sees a good thing with this act but criticised Wike's is a hypocrite. The problem is that Nigeria is a lawless country if not this church should sue the government to court and ask where in the constitution or by-laws of the state is demolition the response to non-adherence to social distancing.

Gerrard59:


But Kobojunkie is right, there's no law which states that the end result of not adhering to social distancing in a church warrants it to be demolished. Hitherto, if the state government had sent a bill to the HoA, got it passed and signed that any religious organisation contravening it will have its premises demolished, then fine and good. Anyone who sees a good thing with this act but criticised Wike's is a hypocrite. The problem is that Nigeria is a lawless country if not this church should sue the government to court and ask where in the constitution or by-laws of the state is demolition the response to non-adherence to social distancing.

I didn't criticize Wike and doubt anybody who has observed Nigerians during this pandemic would do so with a straight face.

And yes Nigeria is a lawless country full of uncivilized, myopic people hence why Wike felt compelled to resort to that which he did. There's a global pandemic and yet not only do they continue services but don't even have the sense to ensure that any of the recommended measures are in place to avoid the spread of covid-19? Tear it down.

Since the ONLY thing that Nigerians respect (and even that is a stretch, respect is in short supply in Nigeria) then hit them in their pockets until they understand. Because clearly they care naught for life.

mmsen:


This church ignored guidelines to stop the spread of covid-19

That's a pretty good reason to get rid of an organization.

If they don't care about the health and well-being of their members then what good are they to the society?

Trash! What are they spreading ? All these fake cases in hospitals?

The monitoring team has no right to destroy a property. The highest they can do is seal it .

petra1:


Trash! What are they spreading ? All these fake cases in hospitals?

Fake cases in hospitals?

What happened to sealing up

nwakaibe:


Fake cases in hospitals?

If you go for toothache you will be detained for covid 19.

petra1:


If you go for toothache you will be detained for covid 19.

Sorry, big fat lie

I think it's a harsh decision to destroy the church. They should have followed the law instead. Let the owner of the church be sued and that's okay, not this.