A pentecostal church in Onitsha, Anambra State, Grace of God Mission International, on Sunday held a prayer rally around the city to protest the spate of ritual killings, cultism and drug consumption in the society.
The rally, which was led by the General Superintendent and Presiding Bishop of the church, Dr Paul Nwachukwu, moved around prominent streets in the commercial city, occasionally stopping at popular junctions for prayers and a sprinkling of anointed oil.
There has been a recent upsurge in the number of ritual killings related to the quest for wealth in many states across the country, most of which involve youths, with young girls being the victim.
Nwachukwu, who led the rally, said: “We are doing this to pray against the spate of ritual killings in the society today, the high level of involvement in cultism by our young people and the rate at which they consume hard drugs.
“Today is a very big and great day. Grace of God youths held a rally all over the streets of Onitsha, declaring and making it loud and clear that ‘yahoo plus’, ‘mkpulummili’ (hard drugs) and every kind of cultism shall never end in Onitsha.
“We prayed against the spirit of wickedness and lawlessness, praying that the youths will start to live a life that will bring glory to Christ. Honour their parents and be a blessing to the society.”
The prayer rally, which began from 3 pm to 6 pm, moved from Upper Iweka Road, Owerri-Onitsha Expressway, Enugu-Onitsha Expressway and other prominent streets in the city.
Some members of the church who spoke to journalists said the aim of the rally was that Onitsha youths will be delivered from ritual killings, hard drugs and cultism, and they expressed the belief that Onitsha will not remain the same after the rally, as God will bring deliverance on the city and the youths.
Sopulu Uba, a member of the church, and a student of Nwafor Orizu College of Education, Nsugbe, who participated in the march said: “I wish other churches will come out and do the same thing that our church is doing today. This will help to sensitize the people.”
