VANGUARD
OZOBO — Anxiety has mounted at the Ozobo community in Burutu Local Government Area, Delta State, following the demolition and razing of the Osuopele Temple by the priest and members of the Great God Holy Tabernacle Ministry, a new generation church, in the riverine Ijaw town.
The razed temple is the worship center of the traditional worshippers of the Osuopele Deity in the town.
The general – overseer of the church, Prophet Tamarauebi Owan led his congregation to pull down the temple.
Villagers said the latest incident was not the first time the fiery clergyman had demolished the Osuopele Temple.
They invaded and burned our temple— Ndoni, Osuopele high priest
The newly-installed High Priest of the Osuopele Deity, Timipre Ndoni, confirmed to NDV that the serving police officer and clergy started his attacks on his sect in 2019 or thereabout, noting that this incursion was not challenged because of the vacuum in the leadership of Osuopele adherents.
“Around 2019 or 2020, he brought a crusade tagged: Jesu Ode to the community, seized the opportunity to invade the Osuopele House, and cut down a 150-year healing tree which is the symbol of the Osuopele deity in the Ozobo community.
“At that time, nobody was taking care of the deity, there was no chief priest. He also did the same thing in 2022.
“However, in 2024, I was ordained as the new high priest of the Osuopele deity and I answered the call on March 6 last year when they installed and unveiled me to the community. On that day, we declared that we would not tolerate any form of religious intolerance.
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