A viral clip showing Nigerians chanting “Holy Ghost fire” to stop a building blaze has ignited a wave of public frustration online over misplaced priorities during emergencies.
- Video shows group praying against flames instead of calling fire services
- Clip trends on social media, sparking criticism and satire
- Many compare Nigeria’s slow emergency response to systems abroad
- Some recall similar real-life incidents involving religious responses to fires
- The incident renews debate over religion and civic responsibility
In a nation where religion permeates daily life, this clip offers a raw, real-time snapshot of misplaced faith during crisis. While the people may have meant well, the fire kept burning, and many Nigerians online weren't laughing. From Twitter to TikTok, users expressed frustration: “This isn’t spirituality, it’s negligence,” one person said. But when lives and property are at stake, should prayer be the first call or the last?
Whether comic or tragic, this moment raises a serious question: in emergencies, can belief ever be a substitute for action?
