By Stephen Gbadamosi, Ibadan
Satguru Maharaj Ji and the One Love Family have reacted to allegations linking them to an alleged armed attack on Faith and Miracle International Church, describing the claims as unfounded and calling on relevant authorities to conduct a transparent and impartial investigation into the incident.
In a statement entitled ‘The Faith and Miracle International Church Alleged Armed Attack (A Figment of GF David’s Imagination)’, personally signed by Maharaj Ji and released today, the One Love Family said the allegations attributed to Prophet G. F. David followed reports concerning Maharaj Ji’s activities and a crusade organised by the church between 17 and 30 September, 2026.
One Love Family alleged that during the period of the crusade, armed police and military personnel were regularly present at the church premises and claimed that loud gunshots were frequently heard between 8:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m., alongside music from the crusade venue.
“It contrasted this with activities at Maharaj Ji’s village, which it said had continued as normal services, satsang and meditation without involvement in any confrontation,” the statement noted.
The statement questioned the allegation that nine skilled assassins attacked the church, and asked of the whereabouts of the men in uniform who used to guard the church during the incident.
The statement questioned why the alleged nine attackers were not arrested if, as claimed, the church had several armed security personnel present during the crusade.
It alleged that about three vans of security personnel were stationed at the venue daily and asked why none of the alleged attackers was apprehended.
Maharaj Ji therefore, denied allegations that members of the One Love Family destroyed church properties.
The statement challenged the accusers to produce evidence supporting what it described as serious allegations capable of amounting to arson.
The organisation also referred to an earlier incident involving its members and police officers.
According to the statement, members of the One Love Family were using what it described as “special grace” pepper to drive away snakes and rodents destroying crops when police officers allegedly attacked them.
It further alleged that members of the Adetuberu group entered its premises, arrested devotees and subjected them to physical assault. The group said the matter remained active in court.
The One Love Family further rejected what it described as fabricated reports concerning the alleged attack, saying the allegations were made after Maharaj Ji raised concerns over references to ‘Operation Wetie’, a term associated with violent political incidents involving arson and killings in the former Western Region in the 1960s.
The group said Maharaj Ji had raised the issue because of concerns over possible escalation of tension.
It appealed to President Bola Tinubu, the Federal Government, the Oyo State government, Governor Seyi Makinde, the Nigerian Police at both federal and state levels and traditional rulers familiar with the matter, to intervene in the interest of peace and prevent what it described as a worsening situation surrounding the disputed land.
On the land controversy, the statement alleged that a man identified as Mr. Okon had allegedly connived with a person it identified as Agunbiroyale and land grabbers over the disputed property, including what the group described as a forged receipt relating to the purchase of the land from persons connected with the Aladorin family.
The group claimed that the Aladorin family had disclaimed the alleged transaction during a meeting at the Oyo State Anti-Land Grabbers Council Office in Ibadan, where a petition concerning land grabbing was discussed.
It further alleged that G. F. David subsequently entered the disputed property by force, allegedly accompanied by armed soldiers and police officers, and destroyed items on the land.
The statement challenged David to publicly produce documents supporting his claim to the property, insisting that the land dispute should be resolved through appropriate legal and administrative channels rather than by force.
The One Love Family also alleged that David had made statements portraying himself as the successor or incarnate of the late Prophet T. B. Joshua and accused him of attempting to create religious and political confrontation around the land dispute. It said the matter was already before the courts and should be allowed to follow due process.
Further questioning the allegation that nine “skilled hired assassins” were involved in the alleged attack, the organisation asked how their level of skill was determined and what the armed security personnel present at the church venue were doing when the alleged incident occurred.
It also questioned claims concerning gunshots, asking what or whom the alleged attackers were shooting at.
The group further raised questions about the absence of publicly available photographs or videos which, according to the statement, could substantiate the allegations.
It recalled that when some members of the One Love Family were previously arrested, video footage of the arrest circulated online within hours, and questioned why similar visual evidence had not emerged in connection with the latest allegations.
Maharaj Ji urged David and his supporters not to turn the disagreement into a religious or political conflict, stressing that the One Love Family had existed for decades and that he had consistently portrayed himself as an advocate of peace.
The statement also appealed to Nigerians to avoid allowing religious disagreements or personal disputes to create tension in society. It referenced previous events involving religious figures and political authorities, including an account by Maharaj Ji concerning Reverend Ejike Mbaka and a former Enugu State governor, Chimaroke Nnamani, while recounting his claimed intervention in the matter.
The group further stated that its earlier intervention concerning the disputed property was not intended to prevent the church from exercising its constitutional rights, but was aimed at protecting land which it said had been acquired from the Aladorin family for the establishment of a Centre for Conflict Resolution and other activities.
According to the statement, the central issue was a land dispute that had already entered legal and administrative processes. It therefore urged anyone claiming ownership of the property to present the claim before the appropriate authorities and courts rather than resorting to force.
“The issue before us is a land dispute, and it has already gone through the appropriate channels. My position is simple: if anybody has a claim to the land, let that claim be determined by the law. Nobody should use force to settle a matter that is before the authorities or the courts,” Maharaj Ji stated.
He further alleged that the disputed portion of land had become the subject of proceedings before the Oyo State Anti-Land Grabbers Commission and the courts, while claiming that persons described in the statement as land grabbers had previously attempted to sell portions of the land to more than 21 people without success.
Maharaj Ji said the existence of the legal dispute made it necessary for all parties to avoid confrontation and allow the appropriate institutions to determine ownership and other competing claims.
“We have spent many years revealing the Light (God) and preaching peace in this country. My message has always been ‘No War In Nigeria Come What May.’ Therefore, I cannot be the person who would encourage people to attack another community. What I am asking for is peace, justice and an impartial investigation into everything that has happened,” he said.
The statement rejected any suggestion that the One Love Family’s concerns amounted to religious intolerance, maintaining that its position was based on the protection of lives, property and lawful use of land, irrespective of the religious identity of the parties involved.
It concluded by appealing for peace among the parties and expressing support for the Federal and Oyo State governments, security agencies and traditional institutions, while reiterating its position that the land dispute should be resolved through lawful processes rather than confrontation.
*PHOTO CAPTION: Maharaj Ji.
