The MFM had on Saturday, May 10, blocked the access road to Magboro, Magada, Makogi, Abule Odo and Unity Estate among other communities, a move the residents claimed was not only surprising, but was done without consultation with them. They planned a protest, but luckily, the Ibafo Police Division intervened, promising that the issues involved would be resolved.
Three weeks after the DPO's intervention, the church barred the residents from passing through its estate, which is the only access road to link the expressway. And started a "strict enforcement" of its law against women putting on trousers and passing through the camp ground.
Some women, who were on their way to the Ecobank in the Prayer City on Monday recounted their experiences in the hands of the security men at the main gate of the camp. They wondered why the church must "embarrass" women, who were on their way to a "bank and not the church auditorium."
One of them, who spoke to a Punch correspondent on condition of anonymity on Monday, said:
"See the loose trousers that I'm putting on. How does this offend anybody? You can imagine the embarrassment that I was subjected to at the gate on my way here (bank). They asked why I must wear trousers to this place, as if I said I was going to the church auditorium. At least, they should have waited till I want to enter the church."
When contacted, the Security Head of the church, who gave his name only as Mr. Lanre, told Punch:
"The so-called access road is illegal. It is part of the church property. If we decided to block it, I don't think that is business of anybody. Can you claim what does not belong to you? They (communities) even went ahead to stage an informal protest. Attacks on public places in the country have made it mandatory for organisations to beef up their security.We are not under compulsion to share our property with the communities.
Commenting on the women on trousers, Lanre said the dress was inconsistent with the doctrine of the church. He continued:
"Such women will be barred from taking the road on the camp that links to the expressway."
