The Dunamis Church International Gospel Centre has refuted media reports on the arrest and detention of protesters, insisting that the unknown youths were arrested outside the premises of the Church.
The Church further condemned the move by some activists who stormed the church’s headquarters, Glory Dome Abuja on Sunday wearing #BuhariMustGo T-shirt.
It was reported that some alleged anti-Buhari protesters stormed the church on Sunday and were apprehended and detained by the Department of State Services (DSS).
Reacting to the incident in a statement by the Church spokesman, Dr. Adah Ochowechi, the church distanced itself from any involvement in the arrest and detention of any group and stated clearly that the church of Christ, over the course of human history, has remained resolute in her advocacy for human right, justice and freedom.
The statement reads, “Our attention has been drawn to a misleading caption in the media space about the arrest and detention of youths in our church on Sunday 4th July 2022.
“The narrative being peddled is that some youths wearing T-shirt branded with #BuhariMustGo merely came to church and walked up to the alter as first timers and were arrested by the church and handed over to DSS.
“Nothing can be further than the truth. The church holds three services every Sunday and the Senior Pastor, Dr Paul Enenche preaches in all the services. After the sermon in the first service on that Sunday, an altar call was made to which many people came out, including the said youths, and nothing happened to them.
“No one questioned the legality or otherwise of the inscription on the T-shirts.
“However, soon after their departure from the altar, they swung into protest with blaring trumpet and saxophone right from the exit door of the church. At the same time, the event was been covered and live-streamed with the background shot of the church building and those and those of the thronging crowd both exiting and entering the sanctuary for the next service.
“The live-streaming had the caption, “Buhari Must Go protest hits Dunamis Church in Abuja.
“This appears intriguing for many reasons:
“No one knew who they were or where they came from.
“No one knew the organization they represented or their ultimate agenda until the DSS apprehended them.
“No standard rule of engagement was followed as the merely sneaked into the church and swung into protest on a holy day of service.
“Moreover, the church is not an activism ground but a center for the projection of truth against all forms of evil. The church is non-political and non-partisan and thus not an appropriate ground for political protests. It is not the seat of government where those been protested against reside.
“We wish to state categorically that Dunamis International Gospel Center has no hand in the arrest, and detention of the said youths as they were arrested outside the premises of the church. The church has no right to arrest and detain people and has no detention custody. The right of arrest and detention resides with government security agencies.”
