The United Aladura Churches, an ecumenical body of white garment churches in Nigeria, has restated its commitment to sanitizing the sect and prevent further "polluting of its name and liturgical beliefs" by those it referred to as "touts masquerading under the cassock".

Speaking in Lagos during the week at the press conference heralding the second year anniversary of the group which climaxed in Lagos yesterday, the UAC national president, Prophet (Dr.) Solomon Alao said Nigerians are free to report to any of the offices of the group or the police, activities of people who opened "religious shops" for the sole purposes of fleecing innocent people "seeking solutions to their earthly problems".

He said the Aladuras sect, contrary to widely held misconceptions and stigmatization as "cultists or idolaters" by members of the orthodox churches, were proud to have pioneered African mode of worshipping God, through praise and worship, accompanied by the clapping of hands, dancing and choruses, which have been widely accepted in all places of worship whether in the country or elsewhere.

Alao who was flanked at the press conference by the other leaders of the UAC - the primate of the CCC worldwide, Prophet Emmanuel Oshoffa, the leader of the Independent Aladura churches and head of Christ the Saviour Church, Dr. Samuel Andrew and the Primate of the Church of the Lord Aladura, Prophet Dr Rufus O. Oshitelu - said the coming together of all Aladura Christian sect under one umbrella and the incorporation of the UAC was an answer to the prayers of Nigerians for a body to help regulate the activities of Aladuras.

He said the group is better poised to make meaningful contributions to the growth of all ecumenical bodies and the spiritual development of the country. He added, "We are more poised to contribute to the spiritual rebirth of our land.

"We are assuring Nigerians that you will henceforth feel the presence and see the emergence of the true Aladura all over the country", he stated.