A Nigerian pastor was killed by members of an occult group late last month, Morning Star News reports.
The US-based organisation said Pastor Victor Kanayo of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) was killed in a town in Lagos state on 26th November by an occult group known as Badoo. His death comes a week after suspected Badoo members killed Iyabo Alaba and her two young children, at Celestial Church of Christ in Lagos city.
Morning Star News reports that Pastor Kanayo’s wife, Gloria, and their 10-month-old child, Goodness, were seriously wounded in the early morning attack and were being treated at Ikorodu General Hospital.
Confirming the attack, police said they had made a couple of arrests, and that suspects are being questioned with a view to discover “the author of the heinous crime.”
Morning Star News said Iyabo Alaba and her two children, four-year-old David Alaba and eight-year-old Rachael Alaba, were reportedly killed at their church premises in the city’s Temu village at about 2am.
Adesina Idowu, a member of the Celestial Church Christ, told Morning Star News by phone that the three family members lived at the church building.
“They were killed inside the church, Celestial Church of Christ – they stay in the church,” Idowu said.
The Lagos State Police Command confirmed the murder of the three family members, saying Alaba’s husband was away traveling at the time.
Commissioner of Police in Lagos Imohimi Edgal said at a 21st November press conference that the attack took place at Temu village in Ikosi Ejirin Local Council Development Area.
“It is a clear case of murder,” he said.
As a result of the assaults, police on 27th November announced a ban on night worship services in the city of Lagos. Only churches that make their own security arrangement will be allowed to hold night vigils, which are common in Nigeria.
The commissioner warned that any pastor who organises night vigils without adequate security will be charged with murder, should there be attacks resulting in killing of church members.
“Henceforth, no pastor should organise a vigil in Ikorodu without adequate security arrangement,” Commissioner Edgal said. “Do not organise any vigil if you cannot protect the lives of the people who attend.”
He said most attacks by occult groups were targeted at churches at night during services.
“All churches should not have vigil in isolated locations, and if you must have night vigils, you must put in place structures to protect your worshippers,” Commissioner Edgal reportedly said. “If I hear that anybody is murdered in any church, I will arrest the pastor and charge them to court for murder.”
Three-quarters of the occult attacks in Ikorodu target a church member or pastor or their relatives, he said.
“They either occurred on the church premises or a building housing a church,” he said. “We must protect the women and children.”
Originating last year with a sole killer who called himself Badoo before authorities apprehended him, the Badoo group carries out serial, ritual killings rooted in the founder’s methods.
Meanwhile, at least one other Lagos pastor has reported receiving death threats from another occult group.
