Etim Effiong
Candle night service for the late founder of the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), Temitope Joshua popularly referred to as T.B Joshua, was halted when a section of the church was engulfed in fire.
It was learnt that the fire started at around 11:30 pm, minutes after the all-night service began in honour of the late cleric at the church headquarters, Ikotun, Lagos State.
According to sources, the fire was caused by an electric spark from an appliance used in one of the buildings within the premises.
Eyewitnesses explained that the fire began after hundreds of members, that had thronged the church premises to take part in the service, returned from the SCOAN mountain where they lighted candles to honour the late pastor.
The event which marked the commencement of weeklong events to celebrate the life and times of the former pastor was stopped as well as the live broadcast on the church Television, Emmanuel TV, was also halted after members began running for safety.
It was observed by our correspondent that the station, after the pause, shifted focused to tributes and other deliverance services performed before T.B Joshua passed on.
The General Manager of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu and Director of the state fire service, Margret Adeseye, said the emergency officials were currently battling to put out the inferno.
They added that the efforts of the fire service officials from Ikotun fire station and other emergency officials were to ensure that the inferno does not spread to other property within the church premise.