By Ben Ngwakwe
GOMBE — The Gombe State Government has assured the Christian community of its support following the fire that destroyed the multi-million-naira auditorium of the ECWA Gospel Church, located off Ashaka Road in Gombe metropolis.
The fire, which occurred on the night of July 7, 2026, razed the church auditorium and destroyed electronic equipment, furniture, roofing, the pastoral office and other property, leaving the congregation without a place of worship.
Leading a government delegation to the site, Deputy Governor Dr. Manassah Daniel Jatau described the incident as unfortunate and expressed sympathy with the church and its members.
He noted that places of worship play an important role in society and appealed to philanthropists, corporate organisations, politicians and other well-meaning Nigerians to support the reconstruction of the church.
Jatau assured the church leadership of the state government’s commitment to supporting efforts aimed at restoring the facility and urged the church to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the damage to guide intervention efforts.
He also advised religious organisations to regularly maintain electrical installations and ensure electrical appliances are switched off when not in use to reduce the risk of fire outbreaks.
Speaking during the visit, ECWA Trustee I for the North-East, Rev. Dr. Isaac Laudarji, described the incident as a major loss to both the local congregation and the wider ECWA family, noting that the destroyed auditorium had long served as a centre for worship and fellowship.
He appealed to governments, corporate organisations, philanthropists and other public-spirited individuals to assist in rebuilding the church.
Also speaking, the Gombe State Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Fr. Joseph Alphonsus Shinga, described the incident as a tragedy for the Christian community and called for support to enable the church resume normal worship activities.
The Pastor-in-Charge of ECWA Gospel Church, Off Ashaka Road, Rev. Dr. Gideon Danbauchi, said preliminary findings suggested the fire may have been caused by an electrical fault linked to one of the church’s power supply sources.
He described the extent of the destruction as overwhelming and beyond the church’s financial capacity to address without external assistance, appealing for support from government, corporate organisations, philanthropists and other donors.
Church members have since begun documenting the extent of the damage as part of efforts to seek assistance for the reconstruction of the facility.
