Nigerian clergyman Chukwuemeka Cyril Ohanaemere, known as Odumeje, warned the country's pastors to cease their prayers for Israel, the local media Premium Times reported, citing a video that has gone viral on social networks.
Odumeje, the founder of the religious organization The Mountain of Holy Ghost Intervention and Deliverance Ministry, condemned those pastors that are praying for Israel, noting that they are not praying for Nigeria.
"All these pastors praying for Israel, you have not even prayed for your country, Nigeria. Any pastor that I hear pray for any Israel, I will make you deaf and dumb," he was quoted by the media as saying.
Earlier, Nigerian pastor Enoch Adeboye of the Redeemed Christian Church of God expressed support for the Israeli citizens and highlighted that members of the church are praying for the Middle East country.
"Hello, my beloved brothers in Israel; I want you to know that we are praying for you, that all members of the Redeemed Christian Church of God worldwide are standing by you at this critical moment," he said in a video posted on X, which was later deleted by the church.
Adeboye also said that the God will give Israel "absolute victory and permanent peace from now on in the mighty name of Jesus," according to the outlet.
"It’s going to be well with you; we pray that this one will be the war that will end all wars in Israel, that from now on, it will be peace, it will be progress, and no one ever again will disturb Israel," he added.
On October 7, Israel was hit by an unprecedented rocket attack from the Gaza Strip, and Hamas troops infiltrated the border areas. The next day, the Israeli government announced that it had invoked Article 40 of the Basic Law, which means that the country is officially in a state of war, and launched a large-scale operation in response.