Satguru Maharaj Ji and the One Love Family have denied allegations linking them or their members to an alleged armed attack on the Faith and Miracle International Church in Ibadan, Oyo State, and called on security agencies to conduct a transparent and impartial investigation into the incident.
The response came after the founder of Faith and Miracle International Church (FMIC), Prophet G.F. David, alleged that armed men invaded the church’s Faith and Miracle City premises on Sunday night, September 20, 2026.
David alleged that the attackers assaulted workers, damaged property, set parts of the premises on fire and fired weapons during the incident. He also called on the police and other security agencies to investigate the attack and identify those responsible.
In a statement dated September 22 and titled “The Faith and Miracle International Church Alleged Armed Attack (A Figment of GF David’s Imagination),” the One Love Family rejected the allegations as unfounded and questioned the account of an attack involving nine alleged “skilled hired assassins.”
The group asked why the alleged attackers were not apprehended if, as claimed, armed security personnel were regularly deployed at the church premises during its ongoing crusade.
According to the statement, the One Love Family had continued its activities at Maharaj Ji Village, including services, satsang and meditation, without engaging in any confrontation with the church.
The group also questioned claims concerning gunshots and challenged those making the allegations to provide evidence capable of establishing what happened at the site.
The latest development is part of a broader dispute between the two religious establishments, which operate on adjoining properties along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Ibadan.
The disagreement has previously resulted in criminal proceedings. In April, four devotees associated with Maharaj Ji were arraigned before an Iyaganku Magistrates’ Court over allegations that they disrupted worship at FMIC by burning dry pepper and directing the smoke towards worshippers. The defendants pleaded not guilty.
The One Love Family said that incident was separate from the latest allegations and maintained that its members had been subjected to what it described as harassment by security personnel.
The group also raised concerns over the land dispute involving the adjoining properties. It alleged that competing claims to the land had already been taken before the appropriate authorities, including the Oyo State Anti-Land Grabbers Commission and the courts.
The One Love Family further alleged irregularities involving documents connected with the disputed property and called on the relevant authorities to examine the competing claims and determine ownership through due process.
It also rejected allegations that the organisation was involved in criminal activity, insisting that any person responsible for an attack should be identified through a proper investigation rather than through public accusations.
Maharaj Ji was quoted as urging Prophet David and his supporters not to allow the dispute to develop into a religious or political confrontation.
“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.”
He also reiterated his longstanding call for peace, saying he would not support violence against anyone on the basis of religion or personal disagreement.
The One Love Family additionally expressed concern over references to “Operation Wetie” in connection with the ongoing dispute. The term is historically associated with political violence, including arson, during Nigeria’s Western Region crisis of the 1960s.
The group urged government authorities, security agencies and traditional institutions to prevent inflammatory rhetoric from escalating tensions, particularly as Nigeria approaches the 2027 general elections.
The dispute comes against the background of an earlier confrontation between the two establishments. Publicly available reports show that FMIC and the Maharaj Ji Village share a boundary and that disagreements around activities at the adjoining properties have already produced criminal proceedings.
However, the available reports do not establish that Maharaj Ji or the One Love Family ordered or carried out the September 20 alleged attack. Likewise, the allegations made by the church regarding the attackers and their alleged links remain subject to investigation.
The One Love Family therefore called on the Nigeria Police Force, the Oyo State Government, the Federal Government and other relevant authorities to investigate the incident and determine responsibility based on evidence.
“If there has been an attack, let the security agencies investigate it properly, identify those responsible and make their findings known,” the statement said.
The group reiterated its position that the land dispute should be resolved through the courts and relevant government institutions rather than through confrontation.
It also appealed to both religious communities and the wider public to maintain peace and avoid actions or statements capable of worsening tensions in the area.
The police and other relevant authorities are expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the alleged attack and determine whether criminal offences were committed and, if so, who was responsible.
