‘Pastor’ Commits Suicide After Prophetess Rejects Him From Joining Her Ministry

A man, identified simply as Prophet Wale, has killed himself
in a Cherubim and Seraphim Church, Ona Iwa Mimo, on Otunba Bamidele Street, in
the Ikotun area of Lagos State.

Punch Metro learnt that the victim had approached the owner
of the church, a prophetess, to be part of her ministry. He reportedly claimed
to be a prophet and said he would love to assist her. It was learnt that the
prophetess rejected the offer, and the victim became angry.

He was said to have grabbed a bottle, broke it and stabbed
himself in the neck. The matter was reported at the Ikotun Police Division on
Wednesday.

When a Punch correspondent visited the community on
Thursday, he observed that many of the residents were reluctant to discuss the
incident. At the church, a man, who identified himself as Noah, declined
comment. He said no relatives of the suspect were available for comment.

“The prophetess family members are not available for now. My
phone is also dead; so I cannot even give you my contact,” he said.

But some of the residents, who spoke with Punch Metro on
condition of anonymity, confirmed the incident.

They said the victim’s death caused commotion on the street,
adding that policemen from Igando, Ikotun and Idimu divisions trooped to the
street in three vans.

A witness said, “It was around 5pm. I was passing by and I
saw a crowd of people in the church premises. Policemen and three police vans
from Ikotun, Idimu and Igando police divisions were there.

“The police took the corpse and arrested the owner of the
church. I cannot tell what led to the death because I don’t live with them. I
don’t know the man. He is a stranger in this community.”

Another resident said the victim was likely to be one of
those sleeping in the church.

“Many people sleep in that church and something could have
led to his death. It could have been frustration and it might be something
different,” he said.

A police source, however, revealed to a Punch correspondent
that the victim was from Apapa area of the state. The source said the
prophetess claimed not to have known the victim from anywhere until on the
morning he entered the church and offered to join her ministry.

He said, “The owner of the church is claiming that she has
never met the man before.

“She said the man just came to her and said he was a pastor
from Bayelsa State and he was living in Apapa, but would like to be part of her
ministry.

“She claimed that when she asked for his address, and
relatives, he did not answer her.

“When the woman refused to allow him, he brought out a
bottle, broke it and stabbed himself to death.”

The source said the victim allegedly stabbed himself in the
neck and bled to death.

“He had a deep gash in his neck. But the woman’s testimony
is still under investigation and she is currently in detention,” he added.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Joe Offor, confirmed
the incident, adding that the deceased was a pastor of the C&S Movement.

He said, “The man’s name is Wale and he’s a prophet in the
Cherubim and Seraphim Church. The incident happened on Wednesday, 23 September,
2015. Nobody knows what made him kill himself, but all those present when he
committed the act have been arrested and they are helping the police with
investigations. He did it in the presence of the General Overseer of the
church.”