“I Will Slap Again!” Bishop Oyedepo's First Public Response To Internet Outrage Over Assault On Teenage Girl

Bishop David Oyedepo

 Bishop David Oyedepo, the founder and president of the Living Faith Church, also known as Winners Chapel, today in Ota reacted in his sermon to the spreading video that showed his scandalous slapping of a worshipper during a 'deliverance' drama at his church.

"People now complain on the Internet that I slapped a witch. If I see another one, I'll slap," said the Bishop, who has become the butt of many jokes since the video was published.

Still, he bragged today, "It is my ministry to slap!"

Bishop Oyedepo, who is seen on the video slapping the young lady for describing herself as a “witch for Christ,” then said of himself, “I am a Baba witch myself.”

He did not explain what he meant, nor did he slap himself.

But challenging the various reactions to his inhumane act, he asked, "Are they going to court now or what? If you slap a witch and she apologizes, it shows you are the superior".

Bishop Oyedepo stepped from religion into politics, and advocated the balkanization of the North and the South of Nigeria in obvious reference to the Boko Haram menace. He stated that the North and the South do not have to be forced to be together.

Despite that foray into one of the critical issues of the moment, the bishop carefully avoided the equally pivotal: the oil subsidy issue which threatens to throw the Nigerian nation into massive rallies and demonstrations starting this morning.

It was also observed that there is greater security around the church. The reason for this is suspected to be the rising threats and bombing activities of Boko Haram, which he also referred to during his sermon in the second service yesterday.

A police report had shown a red alert on the church earlier, as a Winners Chapel in the North is known to have been listed among other churches for Boko Haram’s next bombing attack.