The presiding pastor of House on the Rock, Abuja, Uche Aigbe, has left Nigerians and churchgoers in confusion as he mounted the pulpit holding an AK-47 rifle while addressing the congregation on Sunday.

In a viral video, the pastor held the lethal weapon as he approached the altar to give a sermon during the second service, with many attendees in the church auditorium.

The pastor linked it to his sermon to “guarding your hearts from false teachers” and “faith without work is dead.”

Mr Aigbe said, “Today, there are some pastors with the gift of divination. They know how to read palms. They are not different from palm readers. They can look at you and tell you about your past and the things happening in your family tree some years ago, and you think this is a prophet.”

The pastor added, “There are certain things that have nothing to do with the gospel. God is not a magician. God is not a diviner. Yes, he knows everything from your past to your future. But he does not use your past to manipulate you, and this is why we should carry our guns and defend our faith.”

His response brought huge relief among churchgoers, who glanced at the weapon with confusion as the pastor continued with his sermon.