Metro

Hoodlums Invade Church, Beat Up Pastor, Hack Member

Published

3 years ago

January 28, 2022

A pastor, Adewunmi Awotidoye, has been hospitalised after being attacked by armed thugs who invaded a Celestial Church of Christ in the Jakande area of Lagos State.

PUNCH Metro gathered that the thugs, who were armed with guns and machetes, stormed the church on motorcycles during a service.

They were said to have beaten up the cleric, including cutting him with a machete.

The incident, which happened on Tuesday, January 25, created confusion among congregants, as some fled the church premises.

An eyewitness, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said one of the hoodlums attempted to shoot Awotidoye.

She said, “He was in church coordinating a weekly programme when the hoodlums came. They were six in number; two stayed outside of the gate and two came inside. Immediately they entered the church, they asked if he was Prophet Awotidoye and he said yes. The next thing, they grabbed him and started beating him. One wanted to use his gun on him, but one of them stopped him.

“He later requested a machete immediately he saw that the prophet took to his heels. The hoodlums chased him; he fell and they caught up with him. They used the machete to cut him. A 70-year-old elder in the church pleaded with them to leave him. They cautioned the man to steer clear. Nobody could get close because they were with guns. A lady who tried it was hacked along with Prophet Awotidoye. She is still in a hospital.”

The PUNCH correspondent learnt that there was a leadership tussle in the church.

After a former leader of the church ended his tenure, another pastor, Elijah Ogunbemi, was appointed.

However, after spending one year, Ogunbemi was reportedly suspended over alleged gross misconduct.

Awotidoye was subsequently appointed in acting capacity.

A source in the church alleged that Ogunbemi was behind the attack on the pastor.

She said, “Ogunbemi was transferred to our church in 2021. After church elders suspended him, he insisted on completing his two-year term.”

Another member of the church, who gave her name as Sarah, alleged that the suspended leader had been creating problems for the new pastor.

Ogunbemi, however, denied the allegations, adding that he had explained his side of the story to the police.

He said, “That is a wrong allegation; I didn’t do that and I have never done that and I will never do it. I don’t know who brought the thugs; we were at the police station today and they promised to carry out an investigation into the matter. I don’t have an issue with them. The person that has an issue is the other pastor that refused to leave the church after I arrived.”

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Adekunle Ajisebutu, said the incident was under investigation.

He said, “The Commissioner of Police has directed that the case should be properly investigated and those responsible for the attack arrested.”

Related Topics:Church Hoodlums Invade Pastor

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Metro

Four Dead As 3-storey Building Collapses In Kano

Published

8 hours ago

July 15, 2025

Editor

Four persons have been confirmed dead following the collapse of a three-storey building on Abedi Street, Sabon Gari area of Kano State.

The incident occurred on Sunday evening after a downpour that lasted several hours, leading to the building’s collapse and trapping its occupants under the rubble.

Spokesperson for the Kano State Fire Service, Saminu Yusif, who confirmed the development, said two other persons sustained injuries while nine others sustained minor injuries.

He said: “As of now, we have rescued 15 people. Four were confirmed dead, two sustained injuries and are currently receiving treatment at Murtala Specialist Hospital, while nine others had minor injuries.

“The rescue operation is still ongoing. We are carefully searching every part of the collapsed structure and evacuating the rubble, as it’s believed that more people may still be trapped inside.”

The rescue operation is carried out by men of the fire fighters, SEMA, NEMA and police among others.

Metro

Gunmen kill community leader in Bayelsa

Published

8 hours ago

July 15, 2025

Editor

Suspected gunmen have reportedly killed the Community Development Committee, CDC, chairman of Igbomotoru 1 Community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, Bayelsa State.

It was gathered that the CDC Chairman, identified as Mr Goodnews Manash, was ambushed at the back of the community’s school compound about 10:30p.m., Sunday, while on his way to a relative’s house.

Confirming the incident, the paramount ruler of the community, HRH Ayibaikie Ofongo, said: “Between 12 midnight and 2a.m., Sunday, somebody from the community called to inform me that gunmen have abducted the CDC chairman of our community.

“It was not until this morning that I got concrete information that the CDC chairman was actually assassinated in the community. I can confirm that he is dead, but we intend to have meetings at the community level before we issue an official statement to the public”

Also reacting , the Press Secretary to the Chairman of Southern Ijaw LGA, Mr Ayibaetare Easterday, condemned the incident, describing it as unfortunate.

He said: “The story is true but he was not killed in his house. He was killed close to another person’s compound, whom he was going to visit. It is an unfortunate incident and we pray that this kind of thing does not happen again.”

“We are all brothers and sisters, so if we offend one another in the community, we should exercise tolerance and make peace. The incident is not befitting of who we are and its condemnable.”

Metro

Panic As Armed Robbers Kill 2 In Ebonyi

Published

8 hours ago

July 15, 2025

Editor

There was fear and anxiety in Agba community in Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, as a suspected armed robber shot and killed two persons in the community.

The town union president of the community, Mr Sunday Nwadibia, who confirmed the incident said the community has been under siege for some time due to the activities of armed robbers.

He gave the names of the deceased as Sunday Oyibe, a school proprietor, and Chukwu Ebuka.

Nwadibia said the community has been witnessing attacks and robberies since last year, which has led to loss of lives, cash running into millions, and property worth millions of naira.

He revealed that before the killing of Sunday Oyibe and Chukwu Ebuka, the hoodlums attacked a POS operator in the community and dispossessed him of N2.7million.

The town union president, who said the hoodlums usually wear military camouflage with bulletproof vests, also snatched a Toyota Corolla car and five motorcycles from some members of the community when they started operating in the area.

He expressed dismay that their activities have crippled economic activities in the community and urged security agencies to come to the aid of the community.

He said: “I was in my place when people started running because armed robbers were robbing at our junction.

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“So, everybody started looking for safety not knowing that the hoodlums are coming very close to our side in the community.

“Before we could notice it, we heard gunshots me and my workers also started running for safety. The hoodlums advanced to another junction near my house and that junction is called Orie Agba and started operating there and people started running.

“I climbed one upstairs and started watching the hoodlums. They started shooting heavily and approached my office which I had locked already when I noticed their presence in the community.

“They shot one Sunday Oyibe, the founder of Unique International School, who is also the chairman of the timber association in Ishielu. We rushed him to the hospital but he couldn’t make it.

“They shot another person, Chukwu Ebuka who people said was dragging his iPhone with them,” Vanguard quoted him.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Joshua Ukandu, confirmed the killing of the two persons in the community.

He promised to get the details of the incident from the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Ishielu Local Government.

“Yes, I know there was an incident somewhere in Ishielu but I will call the DPO of the area to get more information about it,” he said.