CAN mourns RCCG pastor killed during vigil by kidnappers in Ogun
Charges Ogun govt to protect worshippers
The Christian Association of Nigeria in Ogun State, has expressed sadness over the killing of a pastor, Kayode Oluwakemi, by kidnappers who abducted seven worshippers during a vigil of the church on Saturday.
The abducted worshippers have since been rescued.
Recall that tragedy struck at the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Desires of Nations Parish, when kidnappers invaded the premises of the church at Abule-Ori, in the Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State, and shot the pastor dead.
They proceeded to abduct seven worshippers who were later rescued by security operatives.
The General Secretary of CAN, Dr Stephen Adeyemi, in a reaction, urged the government to step up efforts to stop insecurity around worship centres in the state.
Dr. Adeyemi said, “It is a very sad incident. And sincerely, this brings to mind a kind of question that, is it now a sin for the worshipers to gather to worship God? We are talking about being in the church, our sanctuary. We are talking about worshipers gathering in the temple to pray, praise and sing and all these attacks are coming to the children of God right in the house of God.
“Sincerely speaking, it is worrisome and it is already creating fear in the kind of society we find ourselves in. It is like saying that we are not safe. This has happened before; now it is happening again, under a new government.
“It means we need to cry to the government the more. I believe that this problem has a solution. We are crying to the government. The government needs to look into this issue of insecurity. How these people come freely into the house of God, operate and go away like that. The government needs to help us with this.”
Also confirming the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, said one of the pastors of the church, Adesina Oyesegun, reported the case to the police.
She said, “The hoodlums were shooting sporadically, as a result, a pastor, Kayode Oluwakemi, 56, sustained bullet wounds in his chest and unfortunately died on the spot. The kidnapped victims have regained their freedom. An effort is in progress to arrest other fleeing suspects that are still at large.”
