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Gunmen kill pastor in Ikorodu, police vow to arrest clergymen who fail to seek protection at vigils

By Odita Sunday
27 November 2017   |   3:38 am
The Lagos State Police Command has begun investigation into the killing of the pastor of Redeemed Christian Church of God, Fingers of God Parish; Victor Kanayo. He was killed yesterday morning around 7 :00 a.m. by unknown gunmen in Offin, Igbogbo area of Ikorodu.

Edgal Imohimi

The Lagos State Police Command has begun investigation into the killing of the pastor of Redeemed Christian Church of God, Fingers of God Parish; Victor Kanayo. He was killed yesterday morning around 7 :00 a.m. by unknown gunmen in Offin, Igbogbo area of Ikorodu.

Of particular interest to police is the skull-tattoo found on the late pastor’s body.The police were investigating this to unravel the motive behind his killing. Detectives actually want to probe whether he was a member of a cult group.

A statement from the Command spokesman, Chike Oti, a Superintendent of Police (SP) said the command has made a couple of arrests and suspects were being questioned with a view to discovering the perpetrators of the crime.He said the Commissioner of Police Lagos State command, Mr. Imohimi Edgal had also dispatched a team of crack detectives to unravel those behind the murder and dig into the past of the victim.

In a related development, Edgal has vowed to arrest any pastor or Iman , who irganises a vigil in the area without seeking police protection.“I will arrest, charge with murder any pastor in whose church ritualists attack and kill worshippers at vigils. Henceforth, no pastor should organise a vigil in Ikorodu without adequate security arrangement. Do not organise any vigil if you cannot protect the lives of the people who attend…”.

Edgal warned yesterday at a meeting held at the palace of the Ikorodu monarch, Oba Abdulrasheed Shotobi, following the resumed ritual killings by suspected murderers in the area.

Edgal said most ritual killings happened in church premises, after pastors would have concluded their prayers and left, leaving women and children vulnerable.

According to Edgal, the police was soliciting the collaboration of all interest groups in Ikorodu to ensure the murderers do not have a field day.He said: “Churches and mosques should not have vigils in isolated locations. If you must hold vigils, put structures in place to protect your worshippers. If I hear that anybody is murdered in any church or mosque, I will arrest the pastor or Imam and charge him or her to court for murder.”

Decrying the bail granted five out of seven suspected key members of the ritual gang by the court last week, Edgal expressed worry that the suspects could wreak havoc if checks were not put in place.

To achieve that, Edgal announced a curfew between 1.00am and 4.00am across the district. He urged the traditional ruler to prevail on his chiefs and youths to commence patrol and ignite bonfires to wade off the killers.

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