Gunmen suspected to be paid assassins shot and killed the Shepherd-in-Charge of a Celestial Church of Christ (CCC) in Idiroko, Ipokia Local Government Area, Ogun State.
Yomi Adetula was assassinated inside his church on Sunday morning at about 11 a.m. on Sunday while preaching.
It was reliably gathered that Adetula’s assailants, who were six in number and armed with AK-47 rifles, stormed the church, the ‘Hebrew Celestial Church’ located at the Odo Eran area of the Old Baggage road in Idiroko, where they rained bullets on him and waited to certify him dead before dismembering him inside the church before fleeing the scene.
It was also discovered that the deceased was the Idiroko Unit Commander of the Ogun State Community, Social Orientation, and Safety Corps, also known as the So-Safe Corps, one of the community security organisations formed and supported by the Ogun State government.
While the reasons for the heinous act were unknown, it was learnt that late Adetula had been fighting a smuggling cartel in Idiroko border town for several months, necessitating his move to Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), in December 2024.
According to a source within his church in Idiroko, the situation resulted in the forced shutdown of his church, Hebrew Celestial Church, on December 24 by several suspected smugglers with whom he supposedly had conflicts.
Soji Ganzalo, the State Commander of the So-SAFE Corps, confirmed the incident, saying he was shocked to learn of Adetula’s assassination and could not believe it.
Gonzalo, on the other hand, stated that the So-SAFE Corp will not back down until the case is thoroughly probed, while also vowing to provide the right security agencies with information that could lead to the arrest of the offenders.
Omolola Odutola, spokesperson for the Ogun State Police Command, said that the assailants damaged Adetula’s skull with an axe.
According to Odutola’s statement, the offenders departed the area immediately.
The statement reads, “A prophet of the Celestial Church of Christ Eagle parish was shot by unknown assailants who opened fire on him during an active church service, and the suspects fled.
“On the 19/01/25 at about 1030HRS, the divisional police officer of Idiroko invested a message that someone has been killed at Celestial Church along Old Baggage Road, Odo Eran, Idiroko.
“Police officers raced to the scene and saw one Yomi Adetula, ‘m,’ aged about 54 years, lifeless, in the pool of his blood, which stained his white Celestial Garment lying face up.
“On careful observation, his body was riddled with bullets, and his head was not speared; to ensure the victim was really dead, it was mangled to death.
“On police inquiry, information further revealed that three men came into the church, brought out a long double-barreled gun, aimed at their target, and fired a shot that brought the deceased down.”
The remains of Adetula have been retrieved and put at the mortuary of General Hospital, Ilaro.
Police are currently working to apprehend those responsible for the homicide, who are believed to have fled to the border area.
