It was gathered from Cameroun that government has closed down places of worships for what it says are activities that have nothing to do with preaching the word of God.

However, CEOAFRICA.com gathered that pastors of these churches said they are being targeted because they criticize the government of President Paul Biya, who has been in power for more than 30 years.

Sources said worshippers gathered in front of their sealed churches saying the government of Cameroon persecutes children of God.

One of the affected church leaders, Reverend Pastor Elie Pierre said they will continue to pray for God to touch the hearts of the police that sealed their church door last Friday.

He noted that persecution will help to fortify the Church, but it is not good that this is happening in Cameroun.  

Another church leader, Reverend Theres Nchanji, pastor of the Holy Ghost Zone church that had been sealed for three months, is assisting pastors of other sealed churches in prayers. She said God will be the one to judge those who persecute His children. “No state can do without a Church and the Bible says whosoever calls the name of the Lord Jesus will be saved. The Bible says that our weapons are not carnal, they are spiritual.  When the devil attacked Jesus in the wilderness, Jesus said it is written, he never picked a stone to face the devil,” she stated.

Meanwhile, despite peaceful protests by Christian communities in the country, more church closing was announced on radio by the Government.
The Cameroonian government has indicated more churches will be closed for not preaching the word of God and for carrying out activities that threaten social peace.

However, Jean Paul Tsanga, the divisional officer for Yaounde three Sub Division who is closing the churches, rejects allegations that they are cracking down on Christian denominations that have been critical of President Paul Biya.

In justifying his claim, he said most of those churches refuse to respect the laws of Cameroon, an act which he described as detrimental to the unity of the country. 

But, some Cameroonians agreed with the action of the government as they described some of these Churches as fraudulent.

 Ngwana Jean Paul, a Cameroonian said his family was a victim of overzealous pastors.

He said his sister was HIV positive. Instead of going to the hospital, he said, his family took his sister to churches that claim they can lay hands (offer prayers) to heal you.  He said his sister went there and died.

Also, another person, 40-year-old Fouda Jacques, is also happy with the decision to close the churches.

He said the state is right to close those churches because they do lots of bad things and some are there just to exploit and make people poorer.

More than 15 pentecostal churches have been closed in Cameroun, with plans to close more.