The Lagos State Police Command confirmed on Tuesday that Pastor Paul Adefarasin, Senior Pastor of House on the Rock Church, voluntarily presented himself for questioning after a viral video appeared to show him holding an object resembling a firearm.
“No one is above the law. Pastor Paul Adefarasin reported to the Lagos State Police Command Headquarters in Ikeja and is currently being interrogated by detectives. An investigation is underway,” the police stated via a post on X.
They added that the findings would be made public upon conclusion of the inquiry.
The video, which circulated earlier this month, captured the prominent pastor inside a Range Rover, lowering his window and interacting with a road user while holding a black object. Online speculation suggested the item resembled a gun, sparking considerable public concern.
In response, Pastor Adefarasin issued a statement on his X handle, clarifying the situation.
“You may have seen a video circulating on social media in which I appear to be brandishing a firearm. I want to make it absolutely clear — it was not a firearm, and at no point did I point such at anyone,” he wrote.
Acknowledging the public unease, Adefarasin appealed for calm and thanked people for their patience, adding that he would address the matter further during his Sunday sermon.
Commentary accompanying the viral footage suggested that the incident occurred when a passer-by recognised the pastor in traffic. The cleric lowered his window and briefly raised the object, which led to the mistaken assumption that it was a weapon.
During a livestreamed Sunday service, Pastor Adefarasin reiterated his innocence, labelling the allegations “malicious” and “hurtful.”
“I was wrongly accused of carrying a firearm and pointing it at an aggressive content creator who came extremely close to my car. Only a pane of glass and a short distance separated us,” he explained. “I neither own a firearm nor possess a licence. I pointed nothing at anyone.”
He condemned the viral narrative, attributing it to clickbait-driven misinformation.
“These individuals are just chasing profit. I probably wasn’t their real target—the goal was financial gain,” he said to his congregation.
Reflecting on the emotional impact, the 62-year-old pastor admitted feeling “shocked” and “hurt” when the video surfaced.
“I’m human. But God understands our weaknesses and brings comfort. What the enemy meant for harm, God uses for good,” he concluded.