Redeemed Christian Church of God, two others, flout Delta Govt order, holds service with more 50 people in Delta

By Ovasa Ogaga,

 No fewer than three major churches in Sapele, Sapele local government area, Delta State, on Sunday held services in clear breach of Delta State government directive on social distance for religious and social gatherings of not more than 50 persons.

Recall that the Delta State government as parts of measure to check the spread of novel Coronavirus in the state directed that Deltans should observed social distance on religious and social gatherings, which its pigged at not  more than 50 persons.

Advocate reports that the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Kings Palace Mega Parish along New road in Sapele, the church of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chieftain in the state, held service with over 500 members in attendance thereby flouting the government order.

The congregations were packed into the church hall watching a projector screen, showing the General Overseer, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, when confronted one of the Deacon in the church, a management staff of DESOPADEC claimed that the church was unaware of the government directive.

Advocate also observed that social distancing as repeatedly ordered by the State Government, which the Orodje of Okpe, His Royal Highness, Orhue 1 Major General Felix Mujakperuo (CFR, mni; rtd) on Friday paid a town crier to sensitize the public on again, was observed in clear breach.

When the media tram also visited the Jesus Freedom Ministry along same New road in Sapele, they were holding service with more than 200 members in attendance and on sighting the team of visiting journalists, they youths of the church attacked them.

The ferocious church members accused the journalists of trying to video them, which temporarily disrupted the service, church members went into fistcuff with the media team with some even trying to snatch the journalists gadgets, the members were however seen hurrying back into the church to obviously to continue service.

Along Ugberikoko road, Divine Anointed Eagles Ministry, a Pentecostal church just before borrow pit, also flouted the social distance order; as church service was going on, with over 150 persons including children in attendance.

The pastor on sighting journalists in the church however, dismissed the congregation saying, “Go out, go out, and let the second service start with only fifty persons” thereby leaving the church members suddenly in disarray.

However churches like Promise Kingdom Ministry aka Overflow at Amukpe, Omega Prophetic Power Ministry, situated at Amukpe, the Church of God Mission along New road, the Redeemed Christian Church of God,  Sapele Provincial Headquarters , close to MTN office, Ebenezer Baptist Church, Okpe road and many others  observed the social distancing with members not more than 50 in their churches and also provided hand sanitizers and water and soap for hand wash.

Advocate also observed that the Living Faith Church aka Winners Chapel, Channel of Greatness Unshakable Ministry and Catholic Churches in Sapele didn’t hold service today; they asked their members to hold house fellowship.

Our reporter who also monitored church services at Ughelli, also reports that 90% of the Churches in Ughelli, Ughelli North local government area, held service in clear breach of the state government on social distance for religious and social gathering in Delta state.

Advocate also observed that the state government directive was not enforced, which also fuels speculation that the lockdown proposed by the government  to commence on April 1^st, 2020 as part of measure to check  community spread of Coronavirus pandemic, may not be observed.