A wave of public outrage has erupted following the circulation of a disturbing video showing uniformed men forcefully entering an Assemblies of God church in Ughelli, Delta State, where a pastor and his wife were reportedly assaulted.
The incident, said to have occurred on April 12, 2026, has sparked widespread condemnation across social media, with many Nigerians calling for those responsible to be identified and held accountable.
In the viral footage, the men are seen physically attacking the couple inside the church premises. Witnesses allege that tear gas was also used during the confrontation, creating panic among those present before the assailants exited the scene.
As of the time of reporting, the exact cause of the incident remains unclear, with no official statement released by relevant authorities.
Eyewitnesses have expressed deep concern over the invasion of a place of worship and the level of force used. A voice heard in the video can be heard demanding justice as the attackers left the church compound.
The incident has also triggered debate online, with some users pointing fingers at internal church structures.
One commenter alleged, “The Royal Rangers is a paramilitary group in the Assemblies of God church. Back then, before joining the group, you had to be a member of the church. It’s obvious they’ve started recruiting outsiders.”
Another user wrote, “This can only happen in a church. Not even the president can send men into a mosque to behave like this.”
The development has drawn comparisons to a similar controversy in 2025, when security operatives were accused of using excessive force during a raid on a religious gathering in Rivers State—an incident that also fueled nationwide discussions about the limits of law enforcement actions in religious spaces.
Calls for a thorough investigation continue to grow as Nigerians await clarity on what led to the violent confrontation.
Reactions trail Delta church assault
Chinedu Okafor said, “This is completely unacceptable. No matter the disagreement, you don’t storm a church and assault a pastor and his wife. Authorities must investigate this immediately.”
Aisha Bello wrote, “Places of worship should be sacred and protected. This level of violence is disturbing and sends the wrong message.”
Tunde Adeyemi reacted, “Whether they are church security or outsiders, this is pure lawlessness. Someone must be held accountable for this.”
Blessing Egharevba commented, “Using force like this inside a church is shocking. The leadership of the church needs to explain what really happened.”
Ibrahim Sani added, “We’ve seen similar incidents before and nothing happens after. Nigerians deserve transparency on this matter.”
Ngozi Nwankwo said, “The fact that tear gas was allegedly used makes it even worse. This could have put innocent members at serious risk.”
Emeka Uche wrote, “If this is connected to internal church issues, then it’s even more troubling. Violence should never be an option.”
Zainab Mohammed reacted, “This is why people are losing trust in institutions. There must be consequences for actions like this.”
Watch the video below…
Published by Ejoh Caleb
