Man burns church over alleged failed prophecies in Lagos

An Ejigbo Magistrates Court has ordered that a 28-year-old, Oluwatosin Adegoke who razed a church over failed prophecies, be remanded in a correctional centre at Kirikiri town in Lagos.

An eyewitness who claimed anonymity disclosed that Adegoke doused the God of Truth Covenant Evangelical Church in Idimu with fuel and set it ablaze over what he termed alleged fake prophecies by the owner of the church.

Adogoke had been a member of the church for several years but his condition worsened.

According to the eyewitness, Adegoke alleged that the owner of the church, a prophetess was fake as prophecies issued to him had been unfulfilled and his condition worsened.

He then ordered the prophetess to close the church but the owner ignored him.

P.M Express reported that the suspect got tired of the church’s purported deceit over false prophecies and vented his frustration by burning down the church.

The ruins of the church, which was located at Akinbolade Street, off Arobaba Street in Idimu, has since become a Mecca of sort to onlookers and residents in the community.

He allegedly took a substance suspected to be a premium motor spirit to the church and set it ablaze.

All the properties inside the church got burnt including musical equipment, public address system, and chairs.

After causing the damage to the church building, Adegoke waited in front of the church until he was arrested by police operatives from Area M Command, Idimu, for arson.

In the course of police interrogation, the prophetess claimed Adegoke was mentally ill, adding that it was the reason he easily bought into the idea of burning her church.

A defiant Adegoke was said to have insisted that he was sane and kept nudging the investigating police officer to probe the cleric on the actual reason why he burnt the church ‘twice.’

After interrogating him, the police found him culpable and subsequently charged him before the Ejigbo Magistrates Court for arson.

Adegoke pleaded guilty.

The prosecutor, Inspector Benedict Aigbokhan, asked the court to give a short adjournment to enable him to present the facts for the court to sentence Adegoke accordingly.

The Presiding Magistrate, E. O. Ogunkanmi, ordered his remand in the Correctional Centre at Kirikiri town, Lagos and adjourned the matter to Monday, July 26.