A leadership crisis in the Nigerian Christian group, the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star, has escalated into protests and riotous damage of church property.
Recently, tensions flared in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, when angry worshippers protested against Rowland Obu, the son of the late church’s founder, Olumba Olumba Obu, who leads a faction. During the protest, members destroyed Rowland’s portrait.
It is not clear what the angry protesters’ grouse was, but a video shared on social media shows people in white cassocks pulling down Rowland’s pictures and smashing them while others cheered. A female voice shouted, “Bring it down!” Another exclaimed, “This is who we are worshipping?” apparently referring to Rowland’s image.
Amah Williams, the sect’s spokesperson, confirmed the incident but said it was part of a conflict over the church’s leadership between Rowland and his sister Ibum. This disagreement caused a split in the Biakpan, Cross River State branch.
Williams labeled those responsible for the destruction as “rebels” from a breakaway faction. He said, “They rebelled; they rejected the rulership of the Kingdom of Christ,” apparently referring to Rowland’s faction.
He urged the public to disregard misleading social media videos, insisting, “The world headquarters of BCS is safe, calm, and peaceful,” as they prepare for their annual event in Calabar from November 18-24.
There is no report of injuries from the incident or police involvement in the matter.
Olumba Olumba Obu, the ministry’s founder, was born in 1918 and reportedly died in 2013. To date, the church has not publicly acknowledged or announced his death, let alone burial.
The Brotherhood believes that Olumba is the reincarnation of Christ. The ministry has over a million members worldwide.
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