# Members of Love World International, commonly known as Christ Embassy, have described their harrowing experiences following a mysterious fire that razed both the administrative block and the main auditorium of the church headquarters in Oregun, Lagos State, yesterday.
The fire, which started around 7 am, completely destroyed the ground floor of the church, leaving it in ruins. The cause remains unknown, although unconfirmed reports suggest a power surge from electrical appliances. The blaze was eventually extinguished around 3:10 pm, preventing worshippers from holding their Sunday service at the church auditorium.
Worshippers were redirected to the Asese Crusade Ground along the Lagos/Ibadan expressway in Ogun State to hold their service. One member, Chinonso, noted that the church’s ongoing week-long program, culminating in a thanksgiving service at Asese, meant that no one was in the building when the fire started, avoiding any casualties.
“I thank God that nobody was in the church when the incident started. We were informed about the incident at another branch of the church at Toyin Street, Ikeja during the service. We saw the building of our headquarters on fire on social media. We cried but yet give thanks to God that nobody died or was injured,” said Chinonso.
Another member, Jude, highlighted the church’s preparedness for such incidents, noting their trained fire personnel and water hydrant system. Meanwhile, Onyinyechi Elizabeth suggested the fire might have been a spiritual attack, describing it as “an enemy at work” meant to cause a setback.
Chibuke Chukwu expressed gratitude that no lives were lost, stating, “It is terrible. It is not expected and we thank God that no life was lost. God knows the best. Pastor Chris is right now at Asese in a programme and all other senior pastors are with him.”
Henry Egbuna, a passerby and member of the Household of God, recounted seeing the fire and firefighters’ initial difficulty in gaining access due to blocked entrances. They eventually entered through an event center beside the church using a ladder.
In response to the incident, Reverend Chris Oyakhilome, President of Love World International, urged church members not to be disheartened. “We built that with what we know, imagine what we are going to do with what we know now. When things like this happen, do not be moved. When something like this happens, God gives us an opportunity to build a better one and a more beautiful one. We must look at life from the spiritual, this is not an accident. We are going to do something better,” he said.
Dr. Oluwafemi Oke-Osanyintolu, General Manager of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), praised the swift response of emergency teams, which helped contain the fire and prevent structural collapse. “Interestingly, there have been no casualties or injuries despite the massive fire, and efforts are being made to completely extinguish it. With the cooperation of the community, we have been able to curtail the major incident from escalating further than necessary,” he stated.
LASEMA deployed an excavator to pull down parts of the building to ensure complete extinguishment and prevent further structural collapse.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Government has launched an investigation to determine the fire’s cause. Margaret Adeseye, Director of the Lagos Fire and Rescue Service, assured residents, “The fire at Christ Embassy’s Church, Headquarters, Alausa, Ikeja, was later put out. As of the time of this report, no record of life lost. We are on ground ensuring safety of lives and property. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined, and investigations are underway to ascertain its origin.”
