A fire broke out early Sunday morning at the Christ Embassy Church Headquarters in the Oregun District of Ikeja, Lagos State. Eyewitnesses reported the incident, which was corroborated by multiple videos circulating on social media showing the massive edifice engulfed in flames.
When eyewitnesses visited the scene, thick black smoke was still billowing from the white structure. Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service personnel were on site working to extinguish the blaze. Police cordoned off the area to maintain order, temporarily halting vehicular and pedestrian traffic on the affected street.
Church members were quickly relocated to Corner Stone, an annex of the church, due to the fire. Some worshippers speculated that an electrical spark might have been the cause of the inferno.
In response to the incident, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, the General Overseer of Christ Embassy Church, addressed his congregation during a live Sunday service at the church’s campground in Asese. He stated that the fire was not an accident but an opportunity for growth and improvement.
Recalling a previous incident during the 2001 Ikeja Cantonment bombing, Pastor Oyakhilome mentioned that the church building had withstood significant vibrations. He expressed confidence in the face of this new challenge, declaring, “We will build a bigger, better, and more glorious one, and the devil will lick his wounds.”
The pastor emphasized that nothing happens by accident in the life of a child of God. He revealed that after the 2001 incident, engineers had assessed the building and confirmed its stability.
Christ Embassy, led by Chris Oyakhilome, is one of Nigeria’s largest churches. As of the time of reporting, no casualties had been reported from the fire incident. The church leadership sees this event as an opportunity for renewal and expansion.
