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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Crime & Justice

Arrest us if you want, we’ll keep preaching in buses – PFN

From The Punch · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) vows to continue preaching in commercial buses despite a proposed fine in a bill before the Senate.
  • PFN President Bishop Wale Oke stated that believers would "obey God than man" and urged authorities to arrest them if they enforce the restriction.
  • The Senate clarified that the bill does not introduce a new prohibition on preaching in commercial vehicles, as such provisions have existed since 2007.

The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) has declared its intention to continue preaching in commercial buses, even if a proposed fine in a bill before the Senate is enforced. Bishop Wale Oke, the President of the PFN, stated during a television appearance that believers would persist in evangelizing, asserting, "We will preach in buses if they want to imprison us; let them come and arrest us."

Bishop Oke, who also leads the Sword of the Spirit Ministries International, argued that any restriction on public preaching would violate Christians' constitutional right to propagate their faith. He reiterated his determination to resist such prohibitions, stating in a viral video, "Make all the stadiums in Nigeria become a prison if you want to enforce that law. We are coming. We will preach in buses; we will preach everywhere."

We will preach in buses if they want to imprison us; let them come and arrest us. We are coming. We will preach in buses; they cannot stop us.

— Bishop Wale OkeStating the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria's resolve to continue preaching in commercial buses.

The cleric described the proposal in the Federal Road Safety Corps (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which suggests a N50,000 fine for preaching or hawking inside commercial vehicles, as an attack on Christians rather than a genuine safety measure. He perceives it as part of a broader pattern of policies targeting Christians in Nigeria.

However, the Senate has clarified that the amendment bill does not introduce a new prohibition on preaching or hawking in commercial vehicles. According to a Senate statement, such provisions have existed since the Federal Road Safety Corps Establishment Act of 2007 and were retained in the proposed amendment. The Senate emphasized that the bill's focus is on commuter safety and not on restricting religious activities. They also noted that the bill originated in the House of Representatives and is before the Senate for concurrence.

Make all the stadiums in Nigeria become a prison if you want to enforce that law. We are coming. We will preach in buses; we will preach everywhere.

— Bishop Wale OkeReiterating his determination to resist any attempt to prohibit public evangelism.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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