How I covered "Lagos landlady ejects church after refusing to pay rent for 6 years; condoms, charms, calabash, other fetish items ‘recovered’ from pastor’s office"

Around July, 2024, what seemed like a normal day for most people became one of the most defining, challenging, and remarkable moments of my journalism career.

I received a call from my editor informing me about a major incident happening right in my own community, a story I should have known about before anyone told me. He scolded me for not being aware of it earlier, and honestly, he was right. I apologised immediately and headed straight to the scene.

That moment taught me something important: As journalists, we must not only pay attention to national headlines or trending conversations online; we must also stay connected to what is happening within our immediate environment. Sometimes, the biggest stories are happening right beside us.

When I arrived at the scene, I began interviewing people and trying to understand exactly what had happened. The story centred around a pastor whom many residents in the area accused of being involved in diabolical activities, although, as a journalist, I could not personally confirm those claims.

What I gathered was that there had been a long-standing dispute between the pastor and his landlady over unpaid rent. According to residents, the landlady had asked him to vacate the property several times, but he refused. The matter eventually went to court and reportedly lasted for six years before judgment was finally given in favour of the landlady.

After the court ruling, the pastor was evicted.

What made the situation even more intense was the reaction from residents within the community. Many people in the area expressed relief after the pastor left. Some complained about constant noise during night programmes and other issues they claimed had affected the neighbourhood for a long time.

I spoke with landlords, shop owners, residents, and several people living around the area. Surprisingly, almost everyone I interviewed had something negative to say about the pastor and his church.

Unfortunately, I was unable to interview some church members to hear their side of the story.

Things became even more dramatic after the eviction. According to multiple eyewitnesses accounts, during bulldozing, several items including bones, calabash, horns, photographs of unidentified people, charms and other fetish items were recovered buried under the church pillars, altar and pastor’s office.

There were also disturbing rumours alleging that the pastor had been involved in strange activities. However, it is important to state clearly that these were allegations and claims made by people within the community.

When I interviewed the pastor personally, he denied several of the accusations levelled against him.

That experience reminded me of one of journalism’s greatest responsibilities:

To report claims carefully, responsibly, and fairly, while allowing every side to speak.

During the interview, the pastor indirectly warned me not to “put myself into trouble,” and for a moment, I truly felt the weight and risk that can come with telling sensitive stories.

The story eventually went viral and recorded over 8,000 readers.

But even after publishing the report, the experience did not end there.

At some point, I received a strange call from someone I did not know. The person said she had heard I covered the story and wanted to speak with me about it. I became worried immediately because I could not understand how someone I had never met got my contact.

I shared the experience with some colleagues at work, and it became one of those moments that made me realise how unpredictable journalism can sometimes be.

Ironically, after the pastor relocated to another area not far from the original community, reports showed that his new church became heavily attended and filled with people despite all the controversy surrounding him.

That entire experience taught me lessons I may never forget.

First, journalism requires alertness.

We must stay aware of what is happening not only nationally, but within our own communities.

Secondly, stories that seem small at first can become major stories that affect thousands of people.

And finally, journalism comes with responsibility, risk, and the constant need for balance, fairness, and courage.

This remains one of the most unforgettable stories I have covered so far, and I’ll be sharing the link to the full report soon.

Thank you for being part of my journey.

Tomorrow, I’ll be sharing another experience from the field.