By Bassey Inyang in Calabar
Â
An angry mob on Friday in Calabar South Local Government Area of Cross River State demolished a church, known as ,God’s Commandment Ministry over allegations linking it to the alleged killing of a one year old child for ritual purposes.
The angry mob which also removed properties from the church and set them ablaze, gave the pastor of the church located on Abua Street the beating of his life.
However, the pastor whose identify could not be ascertained immediately was whisked away to safety by some people who came to his rescue.
While the demolition was going on, some of the residents of the street said items discovered in the church included used sanitary pads, braziers, pants and other accessories used mainly by women, and many pictures of showing the images of men.
The mob, it was observed burnt some of those items they discovered in the church, while items like building materials were looted.
An angry resident on the street who gave his name simply as David volunteered to speak on the development, and condemned such practice in a place ordinarily believed to be a church. Â
 “These are just herbalist homes disguised as churches. If they put signpost as herbalists, no one will go, but they make it look like a church. I believe that this one was particularly patronised by women, who are given assignments to look for husbands. You can tell from the many pictures of young men discovered here. Most of those young men have no idea that their picture has been taken somewhere and tied down here. Who knows if they have told any of them to use the soaked pads to cook for men they want to marry them. A lot of bizarre things keep happening, and I wish something would be done to check the activities of these churches,†David lamented.
Woods, zinc, and other useful items recovered from the demolished church building were carried away by some of the people who invaded the church premises at Abua Street.
The Friday incident followed an allegation that the headquarters of the church located at Okon Edak Street off Atamunu, also in Calabar South Local Government Area, was discovered on Thursday to be a den where people were kidnapped and taken to for ritual purposes.
The General Overseer of the church, who presided over its Atamunu branch , and some of his suspected accomplices were was arrested on Thursday, over the alleged killing of a one year old baby, whom many believe was used for performing rituals.
Following a tip-off, the Atamunu church was ransacked on Thursday and an object that looked like a baby’s heart as well as other strange items were discovered in the church.
The police public relations officer in the state, Irene Ugbo, confirmed the incident and the arrest of the pastor of the Atamunu headquarters of the church.
Irene said the matter was being investigated by the police.
