A man, simply identified as Prophet Wale, has allegedly committed suicide in a Cherubim and Seraphim Church located in Lagos.
The Church
Reports say, Prophet Wale had allegedly approached the prophetess of the Cherubim and Seraphim Church, Ona Iwa Mimo, located on Otunba Bamidele Street, in the Ikotun area of Lagos State.
He approached the owner of the church, proposing to a part of her ministry. But the prophetess rejected the offer, saying she does not need any assistance. Prophet Wale who allegedly got angry for being rejected, grabbed a bottle, broke it and stabbed himself in the neck.
The matter was reported at the Ikotun Police Division on Wednesday, September 23. When The Punch visited the area on Thursday, September 24, residents in the area were being careful, hence their reason for not wanting to discuss the incident.
However, a witness said, “It was around 5pm. I was passing by and I saw a crowd of people on 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 that there is the tendency that 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 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 Police public relations officer, Joe Offor, however 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.”
However, a man at the church, who identified himself as Noah, did not comment on the incident, saying that the no one related to the prophetess is 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.
When Otunba Bamidele, the community leader, was approached, he said he did not know anything about the sad incident.
“I travelled and just came back this morning; please I have nothing to say and I am not aware,” he said.
Meanwhile the founder and leader of Apata Adura Cherubim and Seraphim Church, Ekute, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, former Pastor Adekunle Afolabi, has coverted to Islam after practicing Christianity for over 25 years.