Communities fault MFM over blockage of road

Residents of Magada and Makogi communities in Ogun State have faulted the decision by the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries to close an access road that connects the communities with the expressway. The road passes through MFM Prayer City on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. The residents, who wondered why the church took the decision, told PUNCH Metro that using an alternative route was stressful and took much time. One of them, Kodir Abiodun, explained that it had been taking him much time and effort to get to his home at Makogi. He urged the management of the church to open the road. “I don’t know why they blocked that road. A two-minute walk to my home has now become 10 minutes. In fact, some of the MFM members could not attend last Sunday’s service because other roads to the church and the expressway were waterlogged and slippery,” Abiodun said. Our correspondent, who visited the place on Tuesday, observed that a fence had been erected to bar entry and exit to Makogi from the area. Pasted on the fence were placards with inscriptions such as, “Sunday, May, 2004, no vehicle could move out of Makogi and Magada, all the roads were slippery. The only good road was walled; If you live in this community, please speak out.” PUNCH Metro also noticed that Magada road, which is an alternative route, has potholes apart from being slippery. Another resident and a commercial motorcylist, Mr. Issa Kehinde, implored MFM to reopen the road. He told our correspondent that the church owned the passage. One of the Community Development Association chairmen in Magada, Mr. Koleoso Olarewaju, told PUNCH Metro on the telephone that landlords in the community condemned MFM’s decision. “The case has been reported at the Ibafo Police Station and the police have promised to look into the matter. The road should be reopened,” Olarewaju said. When our correspondent sought the comment of the ministry on the closure, the assembly pastor, identified simply as Pastor Irabor, said that he had no comment. “I have no comment, go to the security department. God bless you,” Irabor said. Our correspondent was not given audience at the security department either. However, an official of the church, who pleaded anonymity because he was not permitted to speak on the matter, confided in our correspondent that the road was barricaded to avert any attack on the church. “Boko Haram insurgents wrote to us threatening to attack our church. I think the blockage is for security purpose,” he said. He added that the road was barricaded because of the activities of motorcyclists, which were said to have been disturbing services in the prayer city.