A journalist attached to Save A Life studio, Port Harcourt, Precious Amadi has cried out following his brutalization by pastors and members of Salvation Ministries, a mega pentecostal church in Birabi street, Port Harcourt.
In an online video by the victim, he said he is a member of the church, but his ordeal started in an attempt to assist in putting out fire which broke out in the church.
He further said he made frantic phone calls to the Rivers State Fire Service to alert them of the fire incident and made several posts on Facebook to create public awareness about the fire.
However, instead of appreciating his efforts to help salvage the church, the church members descended on him and beat him up in full glare of some pastors who watched him being beaten.
He alleged that he was accused of being a spy sent to denigrate the General Overseer of the church, David Ibiyomie.
According to him, after assauting him, he was locked at the church’s car park, while his phones were seized and all the contents deleted.
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“Even when I told them I was a member of the church, they never listened to me. They beat me and locked me up for several hours. They said they would kill me that I had come to denigrate Pastor Ibiyeomie.
“I am in total disarray. After everything, I am told not to speak up. I am told that nothing happened, that a fire never occurred. This will not be the last of it,”, Precious stated.
Meanwhile a statement signed by the Church Administration of Salvation Ministries while reacting to the incident said the fire was a minor outbreak, which should not cause any serious concern.
“It is important for us to clarify that all facilities within the premises are intact. Therefore regular activities and operations will continue as scheduled,” the statement said.
The Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Rivers State Council had yet to officially react to the incident as at the time of filing this report
