By LUCY ADEGBE
Bolanle Ibrahim, a Pastor with the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), in the Mile 12 area of Lagos State has been killed after raging assailants invaded his church.
The deceased, an assistant pastor at the King of Kings parish of the Church, at Maidan village, was said to be praying for mothers and their children during their child dedication when the suspected assailants stormed the church.
According to reports, the gunmen who went into the church during the service tried to drag Ibrahim out, but a senior pastor interfered.
Narrating how the incident occurred, the deceased’s aunt, Mrs. Justina Alebiosu, said when the senior pastor was asking the assailants who they were; they hit him with the butt of their gun in his mouth.
She said she suspected that perpetrators of the crime were hired assassins because “even 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 was true we were born as Muslims, but we converted to Christianity. My thinking is that my brother had a 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,” the New Telegraph quoted the late pastor’s sister.
She added that “the assailants also threatened to shoot any of the members of the church who dare come close to them.
“We still have an aged mother, and his wife just gave birth, his children are still young. I am appealing to the state Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu to release his remains for us to bury, presently we are all down morally, because of his sudden death.”
Confirming the incident, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), CSP Muyiwa Adejobi said a man was attacked during church service. The assailants went for him in the church.
He said: “We are investigating the case because we have a clue into the killing,” adding that the Commissioner of Police Lagos State, Hakeem Odumosu had directed the tactical Commanders to handle the matter as expected.