A devastating midnight fire has razed a Cherubim and Seraphim Church, Irapada Kristi, located on Eleye Street in Akure, Ondo State, destroying the building and property worth millions of naira.
The incident occurred around 2:00 a.m. on Wednesday, with residents reportedly waking up to the sight of flames spreading rapidly through the church.
Eyewitnesses said the fire appeared to have started from the middle of the church before quickly consuming the entire structure.
Residents of the area made frantic efforts to save the building, using buckets of water to battle the flames, but their attempts were unsuccessful as the fire had already become uncontrollable.
“People rushed out and tried to put out the fire, but the situation had gone beyond what we could handle,” a witness said.
Attempts to contact the Ondo State Fire Service for immediate intervention were unsuccessful.
The prophetess in charge of the church, popularly known as Iya Ewe, said the cause of the fire was still unknown.
She explained that she had left the church on Sunday night and did not leave behind any burning candle or open flame. She also ruled out an electrical fault, saying the church’s electrical system had been functioning for years without any previous problems.
The church leader expressed sadness over the destruction, saying valuable items worth millions of naira were lost in the inferno.
However, she raised concerns that the fire may have been deliberately started, alleging that the manner in which the flames spread suggested the possible use of a flammable substance such as petrol.
There has been no official confirmation that the incident was an act of arson, and investigations are expected to determine the actual cause of the fire.
No death or injury was recorded during the incident.
Midnight Inferno Destroys Ondo Church as Worship Centre Loses Millions in Property
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