Hoodlums Invade Celestial Church, Beat Up Pastor

Hoodlums have invaded a Celestial Church of Christ and beaten up a pastor, Adewunmi Awotidoye, attached to it in Jakande, Lagos State.

The assailants reportedly attacked the church during a service, armed to the teeth with guns and machete. They beat up the church cleric and machete him.

An eyewitness told Punch that one of the thugs tried to shoot the pastor.

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.”

According to reports there was a leadership tussle in the church.

A clergyman identified as Elijah Ogunbemi was the former pastor of the church but was suspended over gross misconduct and Awotidoye was appointed in acting capacity.

Members of the church said Ogunbemi has been causing various problems since the appointment and alleged that he was responsible for the attack.

However Ogunbemi denied the allegations against him and gave his own side of the story.

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 case was being thoroughly investigated.