Ibadan residents react to proliferation of prayer mountains

Religious leaders and residents of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, have analysed the perceived advantages and disadvantages of praying mountains and camps spreading across the town.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports on Sunday that the proliferation is found in both Christian and Islamic religions.

While some argued in favour of the development, others decried it, describing it as an abuse of the constitutional rights regarding the freedom of religious worship.

Other observers noted that the upsurge has no positive impact on societal value as evident in the increase of social vices, immorality and all forms of criminality in society.

For instance, not less than 20 of such centres are on Egbeda-Asejire Road, along the Ibadan-Ife Expressway.

A similar situation characterises the Moniya-Oyo Road, along the Ibadan-Oyo Highway; Ologuneru-Eruwa Road; and Apata-Abeokuta Road, amongst others.

A sociologist, Ibrahim Oladapo, attributed the situation to “partly economic hardship and unemployment facing millions of Nigerians who now seek miraculous breakthroughs”.