Police, army take over COZA church in Lagos, Abuja

Policemen, soldiers, and operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) wearing hooded masks and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have taken over the Commonwealth of Zion Assembly (COZA) in Abuja and Lagos.

About 50 operatives from the aforementioned security outfits gathered on Sunday at the church’s headquarters on Nasir el-Rufai crescent in Abuja.

At the church’s branch at Opic Plaza, Maryland, Lagos, security officers encamped around the building as protesters carried placards reading “No to rape”, “Biodun own up” and ”Biodun gbe body e.”

The deployment of security operatives is connected to threats of protests which have been building up since Saturday after Busola Dakolo, wife of the singer and songwriter Timi Dakolo, on Friday accused Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo of COZA of raping her about 20 years ago.

The allegation caused a storm over the weekend with many calling for the pastor’s arrest and others showing their support for the preacher.

Fatoyinbo said he had never raped anyone not even as an unbeliever.