Gunmen suspected to be assassins on Sunday shot dead a Pastor with the Redeemed Church of God (RCG) inside the Church, King of Kings Parish, Maidan village, Ikosi Ketu area of Lagos.
The pastor was conducting children’s dedications when the gunmen stormed the church and disrupted the service.
There was pandemonium as the congregation ran for cover and fled to different directions for safety.
The Pastor, Bolanle Ibrahim, before he was shot was asking the gunmen what the problem was, but they couldn’t tell him his offence as they shot him at a close range.
A witness said that when the assailants stormed the church, they made straight for the pulpit where Ibrahim, an Assistant Pastor, was praying for mothers and their children who were brought for dedication.
According to the witness, Mr. Benjamin, the gunmen pulled him down from the pulpit and were dragging him out of the church, while the Pastor kept asking what the matter was.
Benjamin said:” Another Pastor approached the gunmen and demanded to know what offence Benjamin had committed to having warranted such embarrassment in the house of God, but they hit him with the butt of their guns and he was injured. The assailants also threatened to shoot anyone who dared them. Why we are suspecting assassination was because before they shot him, they looked at a photograph in one of their gang members’ hand; confirmed that he was the one, and fired him.
Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO)CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said that the command had a clue into the killing and had begun an investigation.
He said, “ A man was attacked during church service. The assailants went for him in the church. We are investigating the case because we have a clue into the killing. The Commissioner of Police Lagos State Police Command, CP Hakeem Odumosu, has directed the Tactical Commanders to handle the matter as expected. We will unravel the case. The Commissioner of Police has taken steps to subdue cult-related activities in Mile 12 and Ketu areas”
