Landlords and residents of the Christ Embassy Unity Estate Community Development Association in the Aseese area of the Obafemi/Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State have condemned the alleged plan of the Believers’ Love World, aka Christ Embassy, to demolish buildings in the community and take over the land.

The residents, while speaking with PUNCH Metro, accused representatives of the church of tricking them into forming an association with the church when some land grabbers allegedly prevented it from constructing a gate at the entrance to the estate, which leads to the church’s campground.

It was learnt that after the alliance between the church and the residents of the estate was cemented, the Christ Embassy Unity Estate Community Development Association was registered and the church, through the support of the residents, constructed the gate. But the church’s representatives were said to have abandoned the association shortly after the construction of the gate.

The residents, while condemning the action of the church’s representatives, said they were surprised that Christ Embassy claimed ownership of the entire community when its representatives, who were in company with armed policemen and some government officials, visited the area to measure and take photographs of the land without prior notice to the association.

The Chairman of the association, Akin Olaoye, said when efforts to get the church’s representatives to explain the reason for their action proved abortive, its members complained to the Ogun State Ministry of Urban and Regional Planning, and was told that the church had obtained a Certificate of Occupancy on the land.

Olaoye stated, “We were known as the Unity Estate before, but some years ago, Christ Embassy started using its campground and wanted to construct a gate at the entrance to our estate but was prevented from doing so by land grabbers.

“Since the estate’s entrance was the only route to the campground, the church’s representatives proposed that we should form an association with it to enable it construct the gate to boost the security of the estate. So, we agreed and formed the Christ Embassy Unity Estate Community Development Association.

“Immediately the construction of the gate was completed, Christ Embassy’s representatives withdrew from us and were no longer attending meetings. A reliable source told us that Christ Embassy has obtained a new C-of-O on the entire area, including our community”.