A longstanding land dispute between the General Overseer of Faith and Miracle International Church (FMIC), Pastor Genga Faith David, and the founder of One Love Family, Satguru Maharaj Ji, has escalated into a clash, resulting in the arrest of five security personnel by the Oyo State Police Command. The disputed land, reportedly worth millions of naira, is located along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and is claimed by both parties. Maharaj Ji claims it is part of his spiritual community, which he calls the Holy Land.
According to Pastor David, the church had organised a crusade tagged “Possessing the Gate” on the disputed land to establish its presence, which he said was legally acquired by the church. The church has a Deed of Conveyance and Certificate of Occupancy to prove ownership of the land. However, Maharaj Ji rejected the church’s account, accusing the church members of trespassing on the Holy Land and describing them as illegal occupants.
The clash occurred after church members were attacked following the crusade, with some taken to different hospitals in Ibadan for treatment. Pastor David accused members of the One Love Family of the attack and appealed to Maharaj Ji, whom he described as an elderly man, to allow peace to prevail. He also called on security agencies to intervene quickly to prevent the dispute from developing into a religious crisis in Oyo State.
Maharaj Ji, however, claimed that church members entered his community through an area he described as part of the Holy Land instead of using the entrance to their own premises. His security personnel tried to stop them, leading to a confrontation, and the police arrived, arresting five of them. The arrested persons were identified as Ogochukwu Ogonna, Chijoke Orji, Osike Itabalume, Ugonna Chukwu, and Elue Mazi.
Maharaj Ji maintained that the disputed land was part of his spiritual community and that visitors and outsiders were expected to follow its access rules. He also accused the church of using the police to intimidate members of his community, claiming that similar tactics had been used in previous land disputes. Maharaj Ji urged the police and other relevant authorities to investigate the arrests and ensure that the matter was resolved according to the law.
Pastor David dismissed Maharaj Ji’s claim that the crusade was part of a plot to kill him, describing it as unfounded. He questioned how a mortal being could threaten to kill a self-acclaimed God on earth. The two parties have been engaging in a war of words, with Maharaj Ji warning that further escalation could lead to loss of lives.
The Oyo State Police Command has been called upon to intervene in the matter and ensure that peace is restored in the area. The dispute has caused tension along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, and stakeholders are urging both parties to seek a peaceful resolution to the land dispute.
Key points
- Five security personnel were arrested by the Oyo State Police Command during a clash between the two parties.
- The disputed land is reportedly worth millions of naira and is located along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
- Both parties have been urged to seek a peaceful resolution to the land dispute to prevent further escalation.
