Morris Fadehan, an evangelist with the Celestial Church of Christ at the Grace of Comfort Parish in Ile-Ife, Osun State, was tragically killed, allegedly by one of his assistants, named Lekan Ogundipe.
The incident stemmed from an unresolved dispute between them. Ogundipe reportedly attacked Fadehan at the church altar in the Omitoto area of Ile-Ife, stabbing him with sharp objects and attempting to burn his body on Monday before informing church elders.
According to a security source in Ile-Ife, the suspect and the late Shepard had a lingering argument over an assault on a prophetess since the previous Wednesday, escalating to the violent attack that resulted in the clergyman’s death on Monday.
The source revealed that Ogundipe entered the church discreetly and launched the attack while Fadehan was praying at the altar, covering the clergyman’s head with a cloth before repeatedly stabbing him in the neck and head.
After the assault, Ogundipe approached a church elder named Pa Olafare, reporting that there was a fire burning on the Shepard’s body inside the church. This prompted Pa Olafare to accompany him to the scene.
Additionally, a video circulating on one of the church’s social media handles captured Pa Olafare, an elder in the church, recounting the incident to visitors from the church’s headquarters.
His words, “The deceased had reported to me that he was to disengaged Lekan (suspect) as his assistant over many unlawful acts. Most recent of it include the assault on a prophetess in the church last week Wednesday and I agreed with him, but he added that he will take the decision after consulting with the elders.
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“But while I was about eating on Monday evening, the said Lekan came to the house and told me fire is burning on the deceased body and that he was lifeless on the floor, hence, I drove back with him and my wife to the church where we found the deceased body burnt inside the church.
“We discovered blood stained on different parts of his body and cuts, while asking him how he got the stains, he attempted to run, we grabbed him and luck him in my car before calling in the police.
“We unwrapped the deceased body and discovered that there was nail in his ear and several cut on the head and neck before we took the body to the morgue of Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife.
“Meanwhile Lekan later confessed to the police that he perpetrated the illegal acts because of a dispute with the deceased.
In her own account, the prophetess stated that the suspect assaulted her last Wednesday after she advised them to refrain from spreading rumors about their alleged relationship to congregation members.
She also mentioned that the pastor intervened in the unfortunate altercation and cautioned the suspect against causing trouble in the church.
Yemisi Opalola, spokesperson for the Osun State Police Command, confirmed the incident and stated that the suspect has been detained for further investigation.
“The suspect is in custody. The police visited the scene, and the body was found in a pool of blood. Several bruises were discovered on the body, hence, it was taken to Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital for an autopsy,” she added.
