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.
He said, “The robbers trailed the pastor from a bank, and shot him dead in the area. Intensive efforts are being made to apprehend the robbers. The case has been transferred to the DCI for further investigations.”
Efforts by our correspondent to contact the church authorities for comment were unsuccessful as of the time of this report.
(Punch)
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