Armed Robbers Kill Lord’s Chosen Pastor In Lagos

Armed robbers have shot dead a pastor of the Lord’s Chosen
Church in the Ijesha area of Lagos. The deceased, identified as Chukwuemeka
Akpokpo, who was driving one of the church’s buses, was reportedly attacked by
the robbers on Monday at Alakoso Avenue, off Ijesha bus stop.

The pastor was said to be returning with a sum of money
collected from a bank at Apple Junction, FESTAC Town, when the incident
occurred. He was said to have been shot in the head, while the robbers made
away with the money.

A resident, who claimed to be an eyewitness and identified
himself simply as Cornelius, said the robbers, who were two on a motorcycle,
had lurked in the area, waiting for the cleric.

He said, “It was at about 3pm. The cleric was shot by armed
robbers at Alakoso Avenue, off Ijesha bus stop. The attack and the killing of
the pastor showed that it was based on information.

“They had been lurking around the area for a while, but no
one suspected that anything was fishy. When they saw the church vehicle
approaching, they stopped him and asked where the money was.

“The pastor replied, ‘Which money?’ They did not even wait
for any explanation. One of the robbers went inside the vehicle and took the
money. The other gang member then shot him in the head.”

It was learnt that Akpokpo was rushed to a branch of the
church in the Ijesha area, and then to a hospital, where he was confirmed dead.

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Kenneth
Nwosu, confirmed the incident, adding that the matter had been transferred to
the Department of Criminal Investigations, Yaba.

Punch