Worshippers at the Temple of Glory Church in Asokoro, Abuja, have expressed shock after officials of the Federal Capital Development Authority demolished parts of the church on Monday, barely 24 hours after members attended Sunday service.
Videos shared on social media showed bulldozers and other heavy-duty equipment tearing down the church structures as the demolition operation was carried out.
A clergyman identified as Pastor Ike, in a live broadcast shared on the church’s Facebook page, criticised the action and alleged that the authorities proceeded with the demolition despite an ongoing legal dispute over the property.
“This matter is in court, yet Development Control and FCDA have come to demolish the place. The matter is billed for hearing on the 5th of October, but there’s a lawlessness that has overtaken our land.
“See what they have done. They are pulling down our place in Asokoro even though the matter is in court,” he said while filming the scene of the demolition.
In a separate video posted on Facebook by a church member, Gentle-idyee Ekitok, some worshippers were seen hurriedly removing church equipment and other belongings from the demolished premises.
“We were in Church yesterday only for FCDA to come demolish our Church Temple of Glory Abuja this morning,” he lamented.
The footage also showed portions of the worship centre reduced to rubble, while groups of distressed worshippers gathered to pray amid the confusion. Scrap scavengers were equally seen around the site, apparently waiting to retrieve metal and other materials from the wreckage.
The demolition is part of the ongoing enforcement activities by authorities in the Federal Capital Territory against structures deemed illegal or lacking the required approvals.
In recent months, similar demolition exercises have been carried out against residential, commercial and other structures across Abuja, with affected property owners and residents frequently protesting the actions.
However, as of the time of filing this report, neither the Federal Capital Development Authority nor the FCT Department of Development Control had publicly commented on the specific demolition of the Temple of Glory Church.
The church’s demolition comes amid continued enforcement by FCT authorities as they intensify efforts to address alleged violations of planning and development regulations across the capital.
