Command arrests pastor for church members’ deaths

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a pastor, Samuel Olusoji, in connection with the death of two of his church members, who reportedly got drowned during a ‘spiritual bath’.

had reported on Monday, December 22, that two brothers, 23-year-old Abiodun and Ayinde Oniru, 20, died while they went for a ‘spiritual bath’ at a river in Ogombo, Ajah, Lagos.

The bath, it was gathered, was an annual spiritual cleansing, organised by Olusoji who pastors the Cherubim and Seraphim Church, Ori-Oke Ibukun, Ilasan, Ajah, Lagos.

It was reported that after the deaths, Olusoji allegedly fled the church to evade arrest, while most church members also withdrew. However, the police had arrested the assistant pastor, who was also the church secretary.

On Tuesday, when PUNCH Metro visited the Ogombo Police Division, Ajah, it was gathered that Olusoji had been arrested by the police. The pastor, it was learnt, was arrested at about 9am on Tuesday after four days on the run.

At the police station, our correspondent observed about 20 members of the church sitting under a shed, who came for a ‘solidarity visit’ to Olusoji who had been detained by the police.

One of the members, who identified himself simply as Olamide, told PUNCH Metro that the deaths were a shock to all of them, adding that the pastor had not even got to the river on Saturday when the two members drowned.

He said, “Our church has existed in the Ilasan area for 23 years now without any record of this kind of mysterious death. The spiritual bath we went for is an annual exercise which is carried out as a part of our end-of-the-year activities. So, they came on Saturday to observe it. I did not come with them but, it was almost all the church members that came.

“I know the two deceased very well. We used to eat and play together. The pastor had not even arrived on that morning.

“The church members were brought by one of our elders. The two were warned not to swim in the river, but they insisted that they were used to swimming as they grew up in Eti Osa. That was how they plunged and unfortunately drowned. There is nothing spiritual about it.”

Our correspondent overheard some other church members saying Olusoji was innocent in the matter.

Some policemen, however, came out to drive away the church members ─ some of who were at the point of tears ─ from the premises.

Speaking with our correspondent, the father of the deceased, Mr. Okokuku Oniru, said his children’s deaths were a rude shock to the family, adding that the two had spent about five days in the church before the incident.

He said, “I am aware that the police have arrested the pastor, but God knows everything.

“My children were regular members of the church, and their deaths are a rude shock to all of us. I am also a member of the church and usually donate during any thanksgiving. I know the police will do their work.”

When our correspondent visited the church around 2pm, it was observed that the premises, which had coconut and palm trees, were deserted. Only a handful of people were seen chatting under a tree.

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Kenneth Nwosu, confirmed the arrest, adding that investigations were still ongoing.

He said, “The pastor actually turned himself over to the police at Ogombo on Tuesday morning. Investigations still continue on the matter.”