By Parrot Newspaper 
Soludo Arrests Pastor for Preaching in Market
Onitsha, Anambra State – Parrot Newspaper
Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State has arrested a pastor for preaching in an open market, citing noise pollution and public disturbance. The governor, who later ordered the preacher’s release, emphasized that religious activities should not infringe on the rights of others.
The incident, captured in a viral video circulating on social media, occurred in a market in Onitsha. Soludo confronted the preacher, warning that his actions were against the law and would no longer be tolerated in the state.
“If you want to preach, go to your church and preach. You can’t come to the open market to disturb others in the name of preaching,” Soludo stated. “We have freedom of religion, and we protect such rights, but you can’t come to an open market where everybody is trading and start to disturb. We can’t allow it.”
As part of his administration’s broader efforts to regulate public activities, the governor officially announced a ban on open-air gospel preaching in Anambra. He argued that every religion deserves respect and that people should not be coerced or inconvenienced in the name of evangelism.
Soludo further warned that anyone who defies the ban risks arrest and a fine of up to ₦500,000. He added that the government’s crackdown extends beyond preachers, as it also aims to cleanse the state of “fake native doctors and fake prophets.”
The decision has sparked mixed reactions among residents and religious groups, with some supporting the move as necessary for public order, while others view it as an infringement on religious freedom.
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