Six arrested for the murder of a female pastor in Abuja, the nation’s seat of power.
At least six persons have been arrested in connection with the Saturday murder of a female pastor in Abuja, the nation’s seat of power.
At least six persons have been arrested in connection with the Saturday murder of a female pastor in Abuja, the nation’s seat of power.
This came as the Commissioner of Police in charge of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr. Alkali Usman, has ordered the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, to lead investigations into the gruesome murder of the 40-year-old Deaconess Eunice Olawale.
Olawale, who was an assistant pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), was said to have been killed as she embarked on morning street evangelism. The mother of seven was murdered at the Bolar pipeline area of Kubwa, a satellite town in Abuja, between 5a.m. and 6a.m.
Sources said she undertook her preaching within that period of time. However, the FCT police said a thorough probe of the pastor’s death was being carried out. The police also said they had taken custody of the body for autopsy. A statement by the command reads in part: “Six suspects arrested in connection with the gruesome murder are in police custody and currently undergoing interrogation. The outcome of the investigation will be made public.
“The CP commiserates with the family members of the deceased over the unfortunate incident and assured them and other residents of the area of the commitment and determination of the command to fish-out perpetrators of the heinous crime and bring them to justice.
“He also seizes this medium to enjoin residents and members of the general public to remain calm and cooperate with police in the ongoing investigation. “Contrary to report from some sections of the media that the deceased’s head and leg were chopped-off, the command wants to state that apart from marks of injury inflicted on some parts of her body, all parts of the deceased body are intact. The police have taken custody of her remains for preservation and examination.”
Meanwhile, the wife of the vice president, Mrs Dolapo Osinbajo, visited the family of the late preacher yesterday. Osinbajo, who is also a pastor in the RCCG, got to the family house about 1:30p.m. She was received by the husband of the deceased, Pastor Elisha Olawale, children and a host of church members and loved ones. In her condolence message, Osinbajo wrote: “May her gentle soul rest in perfect peace.” The woman’s husband, Olawale, said his wife had been martyred for Christ.
Olawale said his wife had gone out to preach in the neighbourhood in her usual practice about 5a.m. on the Saturday only for him to hear the report of her murder. He said: “My wife always goes out early in the morning on ‘Morning Cry’ to preach.
There was a particular day she went out and she told me that there is a mosque at the back where they commented about what she said. So, I just warned. This morning (Saturday), she went around 5a.m. and I was still in bed because we did vigil which she participated for a while before she went to sleep because of the Morning Cry.
“Two of my boys are footballers; so, they went to the field to play. When they came back, they told me that they heard some footballers say that they butchered a woman preaching early this morning. “So, when I heard this, we trekked down in the shorts I was putting on. We didn’t see anybody, but we saw blood on the ground.
I asked a policeman around and he said it was true but that they had taken her to Phase 4 Police Station. I went to the station with my children and when we got there, I saw the lifeless body of my wife at the back of the police van.” Olawale described his wife as a devout Christian, who served God with everything she had.
He added: “My wife was so committed to anything that is of God. She was a reckless giver to God’s work. She rarely missed any programme in church. I see her as a martyr who died for Christ. Whether the people are caught or not, they should forgive them. My prayer is that if they can accept Christ it will be a gain for Christ.” Another resident of the area, who pleaded anonymity, said though the community engaged the services of private guards, the effort was not enough.
According to him, the residents started facing security challenge when some boys who are mainly non-Nigerians began to settle in the area. The man said Eunice screamed but could not be rescued before the attackers butchered her to death. He said: “She shouted Blood of Jesus! Blood of Jesus! She lay dead with her handset and the megaphone she used for the preaching. Really, the attack was an act of hatred and religious sentiment.”