Nigeria’s security agents on Saturday prevented the president of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) from entering the sanctuary during a funeral service at the church’s headquarters in Jos, Plateau State, and arrested two Christian female journalists who were covering the altercation at the event.
The service was held for the late mother of Prof. Nentawe Yiltwada, national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), and attended by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
According to eyewitnesses, security agents prevented COCIN President Rev. Dr. Amos Mozho and several pastors from entering the sanctuary to conduct the funeral rites. The incident caused a commotion on the church premises and anger among church members and Christian leaders.
As the confrontation unfolded, two Christian journalists from Jay 101.9 FM — Ruth Marcus and Keshia Jang — filed live news reports for their radio station. Video clips of the incident posted online went viral, leading security agents to arrest the reporters and take them into custody.
Church confirms and clarifies incident
The Church of Christ in Nations later confirmed the incident, describing it as a misunderstanding during the high-security event.
“The leadership of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) has issued a clarification regarding an incident reported earlier today (Saturday, October 4, 2025) involving a confrontation between a cleric and security personnel at the church premises,” the church said in a statement obtained by Christian Daily International.
“The incident occurred this morning as mourners arrived for the funeral service of the late mother of the APC National Chairman,” it continued. “A video posted by Jay FM showed a cleric appearing visibly frustrated on the church premises and moving aggressively in the direction of the security agents.”
According to the statement, “the initial narrative of a face-off was misinterpreted. The incident was, in fact, an attempt to ensure the uninterrupted conduct of the funeral service.”
“The confusion arose when security personnel attempted to restrict the church’s president from accessing the premises due to a lack of proper identification,” COCIN said. “The cleric intervened, informing the security personnel that the church leadership should be permitted to proceed with the funeral service without obstruction. This exchange resulted in the brief commotion seen in the video.”
The church leadership emphasized that “the incident did not involve any form of physical altercation or rancour between the cleric and the security personnel,” adding, “This clarification aims to dispel misconceptions and confirm that the cleric’s actions were aimed solely at securing access for the church leadership to perform their duties for the funeral, and not to engage in conflictual behaviour.”
Jay FM denounces arrest and defends press freedom
Jay FM radio confirmed the arrest of Marcus and Jang and later announced their release. In an initial statement titled “Two journalists: Ruth Marcus and Keshia Jang Missing After COCIN Coverage, Arrest Suspected,” the station said, “The duo had gone to the COCIN headquarters in Jos today for the news coverage of the funeral service for the late mother of the APC National Chairman. It is being alleged that they were arrested by security agents over a video report posted on Jay FM social media handles regarding a face-off involving a cleric and some security agents at the premises of the church.”
The management said it was attempting to verify “which of the security agencies are holding them and their location,” and reaffirmed, “The management of Jay 101.9 is reiterating that it stands by its posting on the face-off between the clergies and security agents during the funeral service.”
On Sunday, the station issued a second statement accusing the Department of State Services (DSS) of arbitrarily arresting the reporters. “Further to our earlier statement regarding the arrest of our staff, Ruth Marcus and Keshia Jang, … we wish to inform you that they have been released,” said Managing Director Clinton Garuba.
“Upon confirming that the DSS was holding them, frantic efforts were made to secure their release,” Garuba said. “Although our efforts were initially rebuffed, they were eventually released.”
“This event has once again prompted us to draw attention to the disturbing issues of press freedom violations, human rights abuses, and the erosion of the rule of law by security agencies,” he said. “Their actions in abducting and detaining them are illegal, undemocratic, and unacceptable. They represent a blatant violation of the fundamental rights to freedom of the press, freedom of expression, and personal liberty as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and various international conventions to which our nation is a signatory.”
Garuba added, “The press is not an enemy of the state. Journalism is a public service profession. Our duty is to inform, educate, and hold power accountable.”
He urged the DSS to “act with civility and restraint,” reminding the agency that “security agencies exist to protect citizens, not to intimidate or abduct them.”
“This pattern of intimidation and repression must stop,” he continued. “It sends a chilling message to journalists that telling the truth may lead to persecution. Such conduct undermines the very fabric of democracy and fosters a climate of fear and impunity.”
Eyewitnesses urge coordination between church and state
Eyewitnesses described the incident as regrettable and called for clearer communication between security agencies and church leaders.
“What happened at COCIN Headquarters during the burial of Late Mama Lydia Yilwatda Goshwe shows both the challenges of security and the need for better coordination,” said witness Thompson Adai. “It is regrettable that the president of COCIN faced hindrance in accessing his own church headquarters. Going forward, clearer protocols are needed so that the dignity of church leadership is upheld while security agencies carry out their duty.”
Another attendee, Peter Mangseet, said, “Does it make sense for a Church leader to be denied access to the church he ministers?”
