The senior pastor of Dunamis International Gospel Centre, Paul Enenche, on Sunday, handed some congregants over to the Security of State Service (SSS) for wearing shirts with #BuhariMustGo inscriptions to Sunday service.
The congregants who are activists were first apprehended by the church’s security agents who thereafter handed them over to the SSS operatives, activist Omoyele Sowore said on Twitter after learning of the incident.
There have been calls for the impeachment of President Muhammadu Buhari following his incompetence in combating major challenges facing the country, including economic problems.
According to Mr Sowore, the 10 activists who were first time worshippers were invited for prayer and upon obeying the call in their shirts protesting against the Buhari regime. They were subsequently apprehended by the church security men.
“About 10 activists decided to attend Dunamis church in their #BuhariMustGo T-shirts. The church asked all first-timers to come out for prayers,” he said.
“The patriotic citizens obeyed the clarion call from the Altar with their fully displayed BuhariMustGo shirt. They were immediately apprehended by the church security on their way out of the church and subsequently handed to the DSS, “ Mr Sowore explained.
The identities of those arrested were not immediately disclosed
Mr Sowore’s comments were also confirmed by some concerned citizens who stormed the comment section on the cleric’s live sermon on Facebook, demanding the release of the activists.
“Evil pastor Dr Paul Enenche, you must release the 6 new members you handed to DSS today for wearing #BuhariMustGo t-shirts,” a social media user, Proficience Sophtrad wrote.
In what appeared to be a reaction to the church’s contact which was shared for people to protest the activists’ arrest, the church management accused the callers of fraudulent activities.
“Please, ignore anyone posting a number with which to contact the senior pastor. They are fraudulent thieves whose judgment will not elude them,” a pinned comment by Mr Enenche read.
The church management as well as the spokesperson for the SSS, Peter Afunanya, however, did not return The Gazette’s requests seeking their comments on the matter.
This comes barely three months after Mr Enenche lambasted the Buhari regime for having “zero leadership qualities”, following the wave of kidnappings, killings, and destruction of properties ravaging the country, particularly his home state, Benue.
In his address, the popular cleric said, “At this point, it appears as if to depend on the government is to wait until you are wasted. It appears as if those we refer to as Chief Security Officers over various levels have become Chief Insecurity Officers, supervising insecurity.”
Mr Enenche accused the leadership of the country of complacency in the face of the worsening insecurity, describing them and “space-occupying lesions”, just as he called for their immediate resignation.The pastor’s brother, John Enenche, is a top military chief and has recently threatened protesting citizens with violence, saying the military would not tolerate any attempt to undermine the Buhari regime.