The pastor of the Cherubim and Seraphim church, Samuel Olusoji who was previously at large was on Tuesday, December 23, 2014 at about 9 AM, nabbed by the Lagos State Police Command has arrested a pastor, in connection with the death of two brothers who reportedly died in a stream during “spiritual bath,” in the Ogombo area of Ajah, Lagos state.
The deceased brothers 23-year-old Abiodun and Ayinde Oniru, 20, got drowned in the stream in the process of the spiritual bath which prompted the pastor to flee the church while the command arrested his assistant.
Punch reports that the bath was an annual spiritual cleansing, organised by Olusoji who is the presiding pastor at the Cherubim and Seraphim Church, Ori-Oke Ibukun, Ilasan, Ajah, Lagos.
It was gathered that about 20 members of the church were seen sitting under a shed at the police station on a ‘solidarity visit’ to their arrested pastor ho they cliamed was innocent of the accusation.
One of the members, who identified himself simply as Olamide, said they were all in shock over the death of the two brothers on Saturday, December 20, 2014.
“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,” said Olamide.
Meanwhile, the church members were later sent away from the premises by some policemen.
The father of the deceased, Mr. Okokuku Oniru, said the death of his children really daunted the family.
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.”
Confirming the arrest, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Kenneth Nwosu, disclosed that the suspects were in their custody while investigations is in progress.
“The pastor actually turned himself over to the police at Ogombo on Tuesday morning. Investigations still continue on the matter,” said Nwosu.
