LAGOS — There was pandemonium on social media on Sunday following the circulation of a video showing a Nigerian cleric allegedly raising a “dead” man back to life during a church service.

Gistlife reports that the video, which has since gone viral on X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook, captured a dramatic scene in which a man in a white suit lay motionless in an open casket at the altar.

In the footage obtained by our correspondent, the cleric, whose identity could not be immediately ascertained as of press time, was seen praying aggressively over the body. The atmosphere in the church was charged, with the congregation wailing and praying.

The climax of the video occurred when the pastor shouted a command, striking the man’s chest. The supposed corpse jerked violently, opened his eyes, and sat up, sparking wild jubilation among the congregants.

Drama ensued moments later when the “resurrected” man was offered a plate of food and water, which he consumed hurriedly, leading to widespread skepticism online.

The incident has triggered a heated debate online, dividing opinion between the religious and the skeptical.

A user on X, simply identified as @NaijaEye, described the act as a “stage-managed comedy,” calling on security agencies to arrest the cleric for public deceit.

“This is clearly a script. Why was the dead man breathing before the pastor touched him? This makes a mockery of Christianity,” the user wrote.

However, a Facebook user, Grace Okoro, defended the cleric, stating, “God works in mysterious ways. Who are you to question the power of the anointing?”

This is not the first time such a “miracle” has sparked controversy. In 2019, a similar incident involving a South African pastor, Alph Lukau, led to legal actions after a funeral home denied processing the “dead” body.

As of the time of filing this report, the Christian Association of Nigeria has not issued a statement regarding the video.