The Zion Prayer Movement Outreach has firmly denied claims circulating online that its Spiritual Director, Evangelist Ebuka Obi, was attacked by gunmen during the commissioning of a free hospital in Aguleri, Anambra State.
The controversy began after an AI-generated video appeared on YouTube alleging that Obi was ambushed around 8 p.m. on the day of the event. The ministry has described the video as a fabricated story designed to spread fear among followers and discourage participation in its upcoming crusade.
In a statement issued in Lagos, Obi’s Media Adviser, Dan Aibangbe, condemned the video as a “wicked fabrication filled with wild imaginations.” He stressed that the hospital inauguration, attended by top government officials, dignitaries, and a large crowd of worshippers, was a resounding success without any security breaches. According to him, Obi and his entourage left Aguleri at about 4 p.m. and travelled to Owerri, Imo State, where they arrived peacefully and without incident, making the narrative of an evening attack entirely false.
Aibangbe suggested that the video may have been produced either to generate online traffic or to deliberately instil fear among worshippers, particularly those travelling from abroad to attend the crusade. He urged members of the church to disregard the claims and assured them of both safety and a spiritually uplifting experience at the forthcoming programme. He emphasized that the so-called attack story was a classic example of how “the enemy uses fear and rumours as weapons.”
The ministry also reassured the public that security preparations at Ngor-Okpala in Imo State, the venue of the crusade, are comprehensive and designed to guarantee safety, crowd control, and personal protection for all participants. Aibangbe noted that those spreading lies against the church had already been defeated and would be put to shame by the power of God.
In its closing remarks, the church advised Nigerians to verify information from reliable sources, avoid sharing unverified content, and report any suspicious activities to the authorities. It further disclosed that the misleading video has been flagged on YouTube for possible sanctions.