In Lagos, Pastor Anthony Israel of the Jesus Disciples Assembly Church has been arrested for the alleged murder of 17-year-old AbdulRahman Olugbade, the son of his landlady. The young man was reportedly killed on September 2, 2024, at Jesus Assembly Street, Omoguwa, Ejigbo. The incident occurred at a property where Pastor Israel had been given free accommodation by Mrs. Temitope Olugbade, AbdulRahman’s mother.
According to reports from P.M.EXPRESS, Pastor Israel, 35, is accused of using a knife to fatally wound AbdulRahman while he was asleep. Following the murder, Israel reportedly borrowed a shovel and hammer from a neighbor to dig a shallow grave in an incomplete room and buried the victim there. The crime came to light when Mrs. Olugbade’s dog began persistently barking at the disturbed area, prompting AbdulRahman’s younger brother to investigate.
Upon discovering the disturbed ground, the brother alerted the neighbors, who then raised the alarm. Despite this, Pastor Israel fled the scene but was later apprehended the following day by the community members. They attempted to lynch him before police arrived and took him into custody.
Neighbors expressed their shock and described AbdulRahman as a diligent and quiet young man who had recently passed his WAEC exams and was preparing for JAMB. Mrs. Olugbade was devastated by the news, having known Pastor Israel through her church and having offered him housing due to his accommodation issues.
At the Ejigbo Police Division, where Pastor Israel is being held, church members were seen discussing the incident in disbelief. Ejigbo’s Divisional Police Officer, CSP Vera Akpa-Ameh, has instructed officers to exhume AbdulRahman’s body for an autopsy and further investigation. The suspect is expected to be transferred to the SCID Yaba for additional questioning and may face serious charges under the state’s criminal laws, potentially leading to life imprisonment.
For updates and more details, join our WhatsApp channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VabITrvEAKW7DSkTfP0J