A journalist, Amadi Precious, was reportedly beaten unconscious by members of Salvation Ministries in Port Harcourt after raising an alarm about a fire outbreak at the church’s Glorious Chapel. The incident, which occurred on March 15, 2025, has sparked outrage and calls for accountability.
Details of the Incident
Amadi recounted his ordeal on Facebook, stating that while returning from work, he noticed flames within the church premises at 17 Birabi Street, GRA, Port Harcourt. Acting swiftly, he assisted in evacuating chairs and fetching water to contain the fire. He also repeatedly called the Rivers State Fire Service, but his distress calls went unanswered.
Despite his efforts, some church members allegedly turned on him, accusing him of being a spy and falsely claiming he had been sent to attack the church’s leader, Pastor David Ibiyeomie. The situation escalated as they reportedly beat him mercilessly, damaged his two phones, and inflicted multiple injuries.
Escalation and Detention
In an attempt to seek help, Amadi posted an SOS message on Facebook, which further enraged the church members. He alleged that under the supervision of some junior pastors, he was subjected to further assault, accused of causing the fire, and locked in a room for several hours.
Amadi was eventually released around 1 AM the next day, but not before church members allegedly deleted his social media posts and wiped data from his phone to erase evidence. Despite clear signs of a fire, church members continued to deny that an incident had occurred.
Amadi’s Account
In his Facebook post, Amadi detailed his experience:
“Good morning, everyone. I am here to share my ordeal at the hands of overzealous members of Salvation Ministries, Glorious Chapel, located at 17 Birabi Street, GRA, Port Harcourt. While returning from work, I noticed a fire outbreak at the church premises. Agitated by the situation, I rushed in to assist members of Salvation Ministries by helping to evacuate chairs and fetch water in an attempt to contain the fire. I also repeatedly called the Rivers State Fire Service, but there was no response. Despite my efforts to contact emergency services, my calls went unanswered.
“As I was actively helping, some overzealous members of the church turned on me. My only ‘crime’ was raising an alarm and calling for help to ensure the fire was extinguished. To my shock, they began beating me mercilessly, damaging my two phones, and inflicting multiple injuries on me. Their justification? They accused me of being a spy and alleged that I was sent to attack Pastor David Ibiyeomie.”
Amadi added that his SOS post on Facebook further angered the church members, leading to additional assault and detention.
“This enraged the church members even more. Under the supervision of some junior pastors, they subjected me to further assault, calling me names, accusing me of causing the fire, and even locking me in a room for hours. I was eventually released around 1 AM the next day, but not before they deleted all my social media posts and wiped data from my phone, erasing evidence of my distress call. They continued to insist that there was no fire outbreak, despite clear evidence to the contrary.”
Demand for Justice
Amadi emphasized that he had no ulterior motives and acted purely out of concern for the situation.
“I want to make it clear that I had no ulterior motives. I am a journalist based in Port Harcourt, and I acted purely out of concern for the situation. I am also a churchgoer in my local area and had no intention of maligning Pastor David Ibiyeomie or the church. Despite my genuine efforts, I was brutally beaten, accused of being an enemy of the church, and locked up under the supervision of a pastor. I was told to deny that the fire ever happened. I was left injured, with my phones destroyed, and warned not to speak up.”
He vowed to seek justice for the injustice he suffered.
“This will not be the last that is heard of this injustice. I demand accountability for the actions of those who assaulted me. My only ‘crime’ was calling the authorities to help put out a fire. I refuse to remain silent, and I will ensure that justice is served.”
Church’s Response
In a statement signed by the church administrator, Salvation Ministries admitted to a minor fire outbreak but downplayed its significance.
“This is to assuage concerns from the general public regarding the minor fire outbreak from the parking store within the church premises which occurred on Saturday, March 15, 2025. It is important for us to clarify that all facilities within the premises are intact. Therefore, regular activities and operations will continue as scheduled. We hereby urge everyone to disregard any false information, and we appreciate concerns expressed by members of the public.”
Implications and Calls for Accountability
The incident has raised serious concerns about the treatment of individuals who raise alarms in emergency situations and the accountability of religious institutions. Amadi’s ordeal highlights the need for transparency, justice, and respect for human rights, even within religious settings.
As calls for accountability grow, the case underscores the importance of addressing such incidents promptly and ensuring that those responsible for the assault are held accountable.
Conclusion
The attack on journalist Amadi Precious by members of Salvation Ministries following a fire alarm at their Port Harcourt church is a troubling incident that demands thorough investigation and justice. Amadi’s bravery in speaking out against the injustice he faced serves as a reminder of the importance of protecting individuals who act in the public interest. As the story unfolds, it will be crucial to ensure that such acts of violence are not repeated and that accountability is upheld.
