Some gunmen stormed a church in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial nerve centre, on August 4 and shot dead its pastor.
Pastor Bolanle Ibrahim, the resident pastor of Kings of Kings Parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), located in Maidan village, Ikosi Ketu area of the city, was shot while officiating at a child dedication in the church.
RCCG is one the largest Pentecostal churches in the country. It is headed by renowned pastor, Enoch Adeboye.
Those who witnessed the incident said before they shot him, the gunmen reportedly tried to drag Pastor Ibrahim out of the church’s auditorium even as he asked them who they were.
On their arrival at the church, the gunmen reportedly brought out the picture of the pastor and asked him to confirm if he was the one.
At this point, another pastor walked up to them demanding to know their mission, but they warned him and other members of the church not to come close to them threatening to shoot anyone who dared to do so.
But instead of responding to pleas by Ibrahim not to kill him, the gunmen repeatedly hit the clergyman with the butt of the gun before he was shot dead.
The congregants reportedly fled in different direction as the dedication service was disrupted following the incident.
Meanwhile, some members of the congregations who witnessed the incident told journalists that Ibrahim pleaded with the gunmen not to take his life
“Pastor Bolanle begged them not to kill him. He kept asking who they were and what their mission was. He asked if they were policemen and begged to be taken to the station.
“One of the pastors, who came to ask them who they were, was hit with the butt of the gun in the mouth. They fired a warning shot before leaving,” a member who gave his name as Magnus, said.
Justina Alebiosu, the late pastor’s aunt, said “Before they killed him, they showed him his picture to identify if he was actually the right person they came for. His death was an unfortunate one. We have lost a gentleman.
“It is true we were born as Muslims, but we converted to Christianity. My thinking is that my brother had business transaction with someone.
“I was told when the assailants wanted to drag him out of the pulpit where he was praying for women, who brought their children for dedication. He begged them to kill him there, and that was where he was eventually killed by the gunmen.
Kudirat Ibrahim, wife of the pastor, said her husband was not a cultist as being speculated. She said her husband was on fast at the time he was killed.
Police spokesperson in Lagos, Muyiwa Adejobi, a chief superintendent of police, confirmed the killing of Pastor Ibrahim. He said the force had launched a manhunt for the killers.
“The assailants went for him in the church. We are investing the case because we have a clue into the killing,” Adejobi said.
“The state Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, has directed the tactical commanders to handle the matter as expected. We will unravel the case.