Gunmen have fatally shot a 54-year-old prophet of the Celestial Church of Christ, Eagle Parish, in the Odo Eran Idiroko area of Ogun State.
The attack occurred during a Sunday service, with the assailants opening fire on the cleric before fleeing the scene.
The Ogun State Police spokesperson, Omolola Odutola, confirmed the incident in a statement released on Sunday in Abeokuta, the state capital.
“On January 19, 2025, around 10:30 AM, the divisional police officer of Idiroko received a report that someone had been killed at a Celestial Church located along Old Baggage Road, Odo Eran, Idiroko,” she said.
She said that police officers got to the scene and discovered one Yomi Adetula, a 54-year-old man, lying face up in a pool of blood that stained his white celestial garment.
She also confirmed that upon closer inspection, his body was found to be riddled with bullets, and his head was severely damaged with an axe to verify that he was indeed dead.
“During the police investigation, it was revealed that three men entered the church, brandished a long double-barreled gun, aimed at their target, and fired a shot that caused chaos, and the assailant escaped.”
She stated that no arrests have been made yet but assured that the police are actively pursuing the fleeing suspects who escaped from the church towards the border area.
The prophet’s body has been deposited at the General Hospital morgue in Ilaro.