A Devastating Fire

A fire has destroyed the ECWA Gospel Church auditorium in Gombe metropolis, leaving the congregation without a place of worship.

### Government Responds

Leading a government delegation to the site, Deputy Governor Dr. Manassah Daniel Jatau described the incident as unfortunate and expressed sympathy with the church and its members. He noted that places of worship play an important role in society and appealed to philanthropists, corporate organisations, politicians, and other well-meaning Nigerians to support the reconstruction of the church.

He assured the church leadership of the state government's commitment to supporting efforts aimed at restoring the facility and urged the church to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the damage to guide intervention efforts.

### Preliminary Assessment

Preliminary findings suggested the fire may have been caused by an electrical fault linked to one of the church's power supply sources. The Pastor-in-Charge of ECWA Gospel Church, Rev. Dr. Gideon Danbauchi, described the extent of the destruction as overwhelming and beyond the church's financial capacity to address without external assistance.

### Call for Support

The ECWA Trustee I for the North-East, Rev. Dr. Isaac Laudarji, described the incident as a major loss to both the local congregation and the wider ECWA family, noting that the destroyed auditorium had long served as a centre for worship and fellowship. He appealed to governments, corporate organisations, philanthropists, and other public-spirited individuals to assist in rebuilding the church.

### Key Figures

Rev. Dr. Manassah Daniel Jatau is the Deputy Governor of Gombe State, and Rev. Dr. Gideon Danbauchi is the Pastor-in-Charge of ECWA Gospel Church off Ashaka Road. Rev. Dr. Isaac Laudarji is the ECWA Trustee I for the North-East. Rev. Fr. Joseph Alphonsus Shinga is the Gombe State Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).

### What's Next

Church members have begun documenting the extent of the damage as part of efforts to seek assistance for the reconstruction of the facility. The Gombe State Government's support is seen as a boost to the church's efforts in rebuilding.

### Context

In recent years, there have been various instances of church fires across Nigeria, raising concerns about safety and security. This incident underscores the need for increased vigilance and cooperation among stakeholders to prevent such tragedies.

### A Statement from Rev. Dr. Isaac Laudarji

### Key Facts

  • Date: July 7, 2026
  • Location: Gombe metropolis
  • Damage: Multi-million-naira auditorium destroyed
  • Cause: Electrical fault linked to power supply source
  • Response: Gombe State Government promises support for reconstruction