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Full List of Prayer Mountains or Ori Oke in Nigeria

Prayer Mountains, popularly known as Ori-Oke Adura in Yoruba language (the local parlance), were significant all through scriptures in the old and new testaments. Jesus Christ was also known to visit mountains for special prayer times.

People today visit these prayer mountains for various reasons — to pray for breakthrough, seek the face and mercy of God and to spend moment with God. Some go there to spend days, weeks, and sometimes months on the mountaintop, claiming they are there either for spiritual rejuvenation, soul purification, re-awakening, resuscitation and healing. Also, many people, who ordinarily, do not have any business being at the mountain also find their way there. Unfortunately, these people sometimes outnumber those with genuine intentions and sincerity of purpose.

List of Prayer Mountains or Ori Oke in Nigeria

This article is a compilation of a few prayer mountains in Nigeria. Some of them are very popular and probably known to you while others are not. While you can also find some prayer mountain in your location, it must be noted that going to a prayer mountain is not always a criteria for answered prayers. It is true that God makes covenant with men of old such as Apostle Ayodele Babalola, Apostle Obadare and many more prophets of God by encounters on certain mountains, but then the position and sincere intent of the heart are the basic things that guarantee answers to prayers. It is also worthy of note as published by the official Instagram handle of the CAC World Evangelist, Prophet Hezekiah, that most of the following mountains were established by Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola.

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1. Ori-Oke Baba

Ori-Oke Baba is in Ede in Osun state and attracts many people across the world who are seeking for spiritual revival in their lives. It is also a tourist destination. Ori-Oke Baba has a building which serves as the church at the top of the mountain where you can have your prayer. The prayer mountain is located in a conducive environment.

2. Ori-Oke Ikoyi

Ori-Oke Ikoyi is another prayer mountain located in Ede, Osun state. Women are not allowed to visit this prayer mountain and at the same time, you cannot walk with your shoes on this mountain irrespective of who you are in society. Established in 1935 by Apostle Joseph Ayodele Babalola, prayers are offered all day in this mountain.

In a review by The Guardian Newspaper Online, the foot of the Ikoyi prayer mountain towers several feet high in shimmery gold with cars and buses parked in wait for their owners to descend from the mountaintop.

The mountain is open to anyone from any denomination. It is a place where men of God come to regularly to receive power before holding special programmes in their respective churches. Also, individuals with various spiritual problems come for deliverance. Ori Oke Ikoyi is an unusual thrill to tourists, but its rural landscape surrounded by open fields and farmlands, is ideal for scenic interrogation of nature. It is hidden in a forest with large meadows and beautiful views and provides a beautiful escape from urban life. You don’t need to break banks to embark on spiritual pilgrimage to Ori Oke Ikoyi, Osun State.

The village can be reached from the Ibadan/Ile-Ife Expressway. Visitors from Ibadan need to take the first turn on the right, that is approximated to be about 2 kilometres after crossing the bridge (Asejire Dam), while those approaching from Ile-Ife have to take the turn on the left about 5 kilometres, from Ikire junction.

Getting to the mountain is easy from both directions. You cannot miss the location, as everybody around knows the place. There is always motley of people heading to the mountain or getting out of the town, waiting for a ride at the junction leading to Ikire, in addition to a signpost with CAC Ori Oke Ikoyi to aid visitors.

From that junction, there are a motorcyclists ready to take you to the foot of the mountain, which is very visible as soon as you enter the town. For the bikers, business is lucrative during weekends and month ends. But during the week, only few people patronise us. Also, the beginning of the year is always very busy and also during the ember months.”

People visit this mountain regularly to pray. It is more like period of revival — time for you to be very close to your God in worship. Most of the people you see around are from Lagos churches. So, if you did not come with your vehicle and you want to go back, you cannot wait for 10 minutes before a bus comes to pick you.”

Ikoyi town is small, with a population running into a few hundreds. It is, however, welcoming. Little wonder the number of pilgrims is growing by the day. Most of the social facilities enjoyed here such as, borehole, road and drainage are all the result of the pilgrimage.

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With a few hotels and restaurants springing up between the crumbling apartment and roadside markets, the town is gradually growing by the day. Provision stores dot the neighbourhood and one common item sold everywhere is anointing oil. There are equally business centres, where GSM calls and recharge cards could be purchased.

FOLLOWING a footpath, I saw what looked like a security post, where I registered. There was no special rule for admission, only that I needed to concentrate on what brought me. Details regarding name, mission, the time of arrival, phone number and other information were taken down. After registration, I began the journey into the mountain.

As I completed registration, extreme cold was biting and stinging. I had donned three layers of T-shirt, sweatshirt and jacket. My sweatshirt was hooded and my thick socks proved to be valuable. Since I didn’t want my feet to have blisters, because of walking barefoot on the rocky terrain, I made sure that the socks were double and thick enough.

Overlooking a gorgeous valley on the other side are plenty of routes to trek up the mountain. Climbing up the rocky path to reach the peak of the mountain was a special experience, especially, under a starry night sky, while following a lit trail of worshippers, as they marched up or down.

Up and up and up, each step was an achievement, as I climbed. The wind howled and the stars shone. I concentrated on planting each foot on the mountain. As I climbed, I saw a whole lot of people lying down and silently talking to God. Some were moving around the different areas in supplication, while a host of others slept on the rugged terrain of the mountain. An elderly woman was alone in pensive mood in the Land of Mercy.

Amid the sea of heads and kneeling worshippers, a small girl clung to her mother’s dress. The small girl seemed scared of being abandoned. A woman, who was dressed like an Eskimo, suddenly knelt down and started supplicating in a place called Mountain of Separation. She knelt in the space between the two rocks, with two pictures in her hand.

The image cast was that of a worried woman. As she prayed in low tone, like Hannah in Shiloh, she was busy waving two pictures. After prayer, she put the two pictures separately on the ground, faced down.

Mind you, don’t be sure to see the same group in a place for too long. It is not a camp, so, prayerfully, every group moves around for designated spots to pray, depending on why you have come. Prayers go on 24 hours (everyday) here; either individually, group or general inter-denominational service.Maduakor said though the place is supposed to be a holy ground, many people with ulterior motives are violating the place. “Only recently, a young man tried to rape a lady on the mountain. Another was struck by thunder of God, because he violated the sanctity of the place,” he said.

The man of God said, “there are testimonies too numerous about what God has done for various individuals, who have made it to the covenant mountain.

“At the beginning of the year, I encourage members of my church to come and share moment with God on the mountain.”

A member of the church, Favour Osawe, said, “whenever I face any challenge, I come here and have never been disappointed.”

THERE are two prayer mountains in Ikoyi. The Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) uses the Ori Oke Ikoyi, which is the most popular, and the other is Higher Mountain of Deborah. For many, a trip to Ikoyi ends at the CAC ground. Formerly called Mososi, which means don’t throw dirty things on it, the only thing that was done then on the mountain was to dry yam or cassava flakes on it. People believed it harboured some spirits, which they didn’t see, but needed to be respected.

The late Apostle Joseph Ayodele Babalola established it, in 1935, at a time when idol worship, rituals, black magic, witchcraft and so many devilish acts were at their peak in the continent. During this period, Apostle Babalola established several prayer mountain, where he went with his followers to fast and pray and seek the face of God before going for revivals.

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After descending the mountain, he would go for revivals and crusades all over Nigeria. Ori-Oke Ikoyi was his favourite mountain and he chose a particular spot on the mountain where he would spend days praying before going for crusades. After his demise, in 1959, because of the covenant of God on the mountain, people from all over the world still visit the place to pray.

The CAC section is well organised. It is not high compared with Higher Mountain of Deborah, however, with clean bathrooms and toilets. The church is a modern construction. And if you’ve made up your mind to stay here, know that your interaction will be only with men. Ladies are not allowed in that section.

For the Higher Mountain of Deborah, It is worth mentioning that there are two ways to reach the peak of Higher Mountain of Deborah, one of which is to follow a narrow path from the Land of Mercy. It is preferable to follow this trail for the climb and to use the stairs route that was built for the descent.

At the Land of Mercy, there are weathered houses of wood and other cheap materials, where visitors could take turns to bath or eat and fellowship. The church is currently undergoing reconstruction.

No matter your denomination, there is a time for general fellowship and special programmes in the Land of Mercy. General inter-denominational service is compulsory. And the services are two times a day: Morning service at 10am to 1pm and an evening service at 10pm to 1am.

ON both sides, almost the same rules obtain. Bring your tithes, offerings and pay your vows, remove your shoes, sandals and slippers before climbing the mountain, everybody must participate in all the activities of this mountain (No separate or private prayers during this period) and nobody or group is allowed to build any separate altar or structure on this mountain.

Others include, no burning of candles, incense, clothes or anything burnable on this mountain, perfume is not accepted, if you are to stay more than three or seven days, you are required to see the management (mama ori-oke or pastor-in-charge for details, direction and registration), this is sacred place, so, do not steal other persons’ properties not to invoke the anger of God on you, keep this mountain clean all the time. Do not eat anything pepper and oil on the rock. Do not spit, litter, defecate, deconsecrate or wash anything on the rock; discussion on politics, religion or tribalism is totally prohibited; do not disturb others with your radio, handset music or other electronic gadgets and prayer should only be in the name of Jesus Christ.

The rules also include, only water, olive oil can be brought to this mountain for blessing, don’t mess up the toilet and bathroom, while using foul language, fighting and quarreling are not allowed on this mountain and don’t go to the extreme part of the mountain to pray.

For the Higher Mountain of Deborah, you can see these additional rules: Women must not wear men’s clothes, and they must not sleep together on the same mat or with the same wrapper on this mountain.

3. CAC Koseunti Mountain

The Christ Apostolic Church (C.A.C) Koseunti

4. Ori-Oke-Erimo

Ori-Oke-Erimo is located in Erinmo-Ijesa and is a great place for people In search of God healing and other miracles. Some of them spend many months seeking solutions or answers to their questions. This prayer mountain in Nigeria has certain rules and regulations like quiet prayer in the morning and you should not wear your shoes while there. You can, however, eat and drink in this prayer mountain but not allowed to go near the altar. It also has a mysterious shore of water which is said to possess healing powers.

5. Ori Oke Akinkemi

Located in Ibadan, Nigeria, the Akinkemi prayer mountain is a widely visited prayer ground. To visit Ori-Oke Akinkemi from anywhere outside Ibadan, you should first get to the last bus stop at Ibadan. Depending on where you are coming from, this last bus stop is usually at Iwo Road Garage. From Iwo road, you can take a bus or a motorcycle and drop at Olorunsogo. If you don’t want to break your journey that way, you can ask the biker or bus driver to take you to where you will get bus going to Ori Oke Akinkemi Prayer House. As at the time of compiling this article, it’s about #250 for bus far and #600 for motorcycles. You should put in mind that the cost may be higher than this if you are not breaking your journey in bits.

6. Ase Irorun Prayer Mountain

Literally translated to mean ”the anointing of ease prayer mountain”, this prayer mountain is located at 30 Bintu Ojoku Street, Java Bus stop, Ope-Ilu Agbado Unity Estate in Lagos State, Nigeria.

7. Babalola Memorial International Miracle Camp, Ikeji-Arakeji, Osun

Located at the Joseph Ayodele Babalola University, Ikeji Arakeji, the Babalola Memorial International Miracle Camp hosts the popular Ori-Oke Arakeji

8. Ikoyi Mountain, Oke Osun DCC, Osun

9 Alakowe Mountain, Ile-Ife, Osun State

10 Ori Oke Ikire, Ikire, Osun

In a few minutes drive away from the city of Ile-Ife, you’d get to the popular town of in Ikire, Osun State

11. Oke Isegun KE ISEGUN, EFON-ALAAYE, EKITI

12. OKEAYO, EFON-ALAAYE, EKITI

13. OKE IYANU, IDO AJINARE, EKITI

14. OKE AJAIYE, AJAIYE EKITI, EKITI

15. CAC BABALOLA MOUNTAIN, IDO ILE, EKITI

16. CAC OKE ANU MOUNTAIN, IKOLE EKITI

17. CAC ASEYORI MOUNTAIN, ADO EKITI

18. CAC MOUNTAIN, OKE ANU ERIO, ERIO EKITI

19. AJAYE MOUNTAIN, ARAMOKO DCC, EKITI

20. CAC MOUNTAIN OF BLESSING, OMUO EKITI

21. CAC BABALOLA MOUNTAIN, EFON EKITI

22. CAC MOUNTAIN OF RESURRECTION.

23. OKE IGAN, ONDO

24. CAC Mountain Pele, Ondo town, Ondo

The Christ Apostolic Church Mountain in Pele, Ondo town is

25. CAC Babalola Mountain, Epinmi

Located in Epinmi Akoko, Ondo State

26. CAC MOUNTAIN, ALADE IDANRE, ONDO

The Christ Apostolic Church also has another powerful prayer mountain in Alade Idanre, Ondo State

27. APOSTLE JOSEPH BABALOLA MOUNTAIN IKARE-AKOKO, ONDO

28. CAC IKAO PRAYER MOUNTAIN, EDO

29. CAC PRAYER MOUNTAIN. OKHU, OKPILLA ZONE, EDO

30. ODO-OWA MOUNTAIN, ODO-OWA, KWARA

31. Ori Oke, Garrage Offa, Ilorin, Kwara

The city of Ilorin is not left out in the list of cities with popular prayer mountains in Nigeria.

Now, with this list of prayer mountains, you can visit any of the above locations. In your preparation, arrange extra cost for accommodation and feeding (if you will not be fasting all through your stay).

Please note that this article is still being updated and the last major update was on January 28th, 2023. If you have visited a prayer mountain before or there is a new prayer mountain you’d like us to review in this list, please drop a comment below and we’d do a research about it.