The Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries has said it detained the crew of SaharaReporters, led by its founder, Omoyele Sowore, because it went beyond the point allowed during services.
In a statement by Pastor Oladele Bank-Olemoh, the church said in view of the security challenges facing the country, it had to put in place measures to prevent any negative occurrence.
It said it had the right to monitor the movement of people in and around the church premises.
Bank-Olemoh said in the statement: “The attention of Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries has been drawn to a story on Sahara Reporters, alleging how Mr. Omowole Sowore and his crew were mishandled at the cross over night at prayer city on January 1st 2o13.
“Inasmuch as we don’t want to join issues with the media organization, we hereby state our position as regards the issue for the benefit of the public.
“MFM has an open door policy as regards the media, as many journalists were accredited to cover the cross over night.
“Besides, the event was live on social media. Sahara crew never applied and was never accredited as one of the media organizations to cover the event, nevertheless, they were allowed inside the prayer city to film the event, and the crew was only stopped when they went beyond the parameters allowed for media men.
“In view of the security challenges facing the nation and the body of Christ in particular, MFM has the right to monitor the movement of people in and around our church premises.
“Can Sahara barge into a Mosque to cover an event without permission?
“Is Sahara which is based in The United State of America saying it does not know the normal procedure for covering an event?
“Can Sahara barge into an event in USA to cover without an accreditation?
“Therefore, we appeal to the media to respect the authority of the church just as our doors are open to media organizations in the discharge of duties.
“God bless you all.”
The church detained Sowore and his crew for over four hours, harassing the journalists and smashing the glasses of Sowore during the watch night service held between December 31, 2012 and January 1, 2013.
In the course of the detention, the SaharaReporters crew also discovered that young persons who were selling literatures, sachet water other items were also arrested by the church.
The arrested petty traders were being beaten at a detention point created within the premises of the MFM, located on the ever-busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
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