A fire engulfed Christ Apostolic Church in Ibadan during a vigil, trapping worshippers and raising concerns about safety measures in places of worship.

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]ragedy struck on Friday night as a fire engulfed the Christ Apostolic Church in Wisdom Estate, Ibadan, Oyo State, trapping several worshippers during a vigil. The incident occurred around 9:30 pm on Olohunda Road in the Lagelu Local Government Area.

Eyewitnesses reported that some worshippers had fallen asleep in preparation for the night vigil when the blaze erupted, catching many off guard.

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“Some people had already slept off when the fire started,” one witness recounted. “An elderly woman who could barely walk was still inside the church when the fire was raging.”

Emergency services, including the Oyo State Fire Services, were called to the scene. The agency’s General Manager, Akinyemi Akinyinka, confirmed the incident, noting that the cause of the fire remains unknown as of press time.

The fire, which caused significant damage to the church building, has raised concerns about the safety measures in place during vigils and other overnight gatherings in worship centres.

Authorities are expected to launch an investigation to determine the cause and prevent future occurrences.