Ogun monarch breaks silence on Cele pastor’s killing during service
The Onipokia of Ipokia Kingdom, Oba Yisa Olaniyan, has condemned the killing of a Celestial Church of Christ pastor, Yomi Adetula, in the Idiroko area of the Ipokia Local Government Area of Ogun State on Sunday.
The monarch in an exclusive interview with PUNCH Metro on Monday, also called for a thorough investigation and arrest of the perpetrators of the dastardly act.
PUNCH Metro reported on Sunday that 54-year-old Adetula was attacked by yet-to-be-identified gunmen at his church located along Old Baggage Road, Odo Eran, Idiroko.
The gunmen were said to have opened fire on him and axed his head till he became lifeless.
An investigative journalist and Founder of the Foundation for Investigative Journalism, Fisayo Soyombo, had in a post on his Facebook page on Sunday, claimed that the late Adetula was a witness to a suit between the FIJ and an Ogun State-based businessman.
“Adetula is one of the witnesses listed by FIJ Nigeria in its defence of the libel lawsuit filed by IBD Dende in response to FIJ’s undercover investigation and subsequent documentary on smuggling, and the ‘Good Morning Nigeria Customs’ tweets by its founder,” Soyombo wrote.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Omolola Odutola, who confirmed the incident to newsmen noted that three men entered the church, brandished a long double-barrelled gun, aimed at their target, and fired a shot that caused chaos, while the assailant escaped.
Reacting to the killing, Olaniyan noted that the incident has caused panic among indigenes of the community in the diaspora as he has been inundated with calls regarding the incident.
He described the late Adetula as a member of the state security outfit, SO-SAFE, who was committed to the peace and tranquillity of the Ipokia kingdom.
He said, “The incident is so sad. It is not a common occurrence in our area. We want to send our condolences to the family, friends, and church members of the deceased and the entire Ipokia kingdom at large.
“As the prescribed authority in this local government, I’ve been inundated with the gruesome killing of the deceased which has left some of our citizens in the Diaspora worried. This is one isolated incident that is strange to our community because we are a peaceful community.”
The traditional ruler urged the Ogun State Government and the Nigeria Police Force to ensure that the perpetrators were brought to justice stressing that the nature of the killing called for investigation.
“I want to use this opportunity to call on the government and the security agents to try and work together to uncover those who were behind the killing and ensure that they bring them to book.
“I don’t know the facts behind it but I know there’s something behind it. The man is one of the SO-SAFE corps members. It is so sad that such a gruesome killing happened in our community,” Olaniyan said.
The monarch assured residents and indigenes of the community of commitment to the security of lives and property.
Meanwhile, the Ogun State Police Command said it had begun an investigation into the matter.
Odutola had stated on Sunday that though no arrest was made regarding the incident, the police had launched a manhunt for the assailants.
“There is no arrest made yet, but the police are actively working to apprehend the fleeing suspects who escaped from the church toward the border area.
“Normalcy has been restored in the area, and potential clues are expected to emerge in the coming days as investigations into this tragic incident are underway,” she said.
