Pastor stabs colleague to death in Osun

A church founder, identified simply as Pastor Adepoju, has stabbed a fellow pastor of a branch of The Apostolic Church  Nigeria in Gbongan, Osun State, Pastor Julius Oguntoye,  to death.

Adepoju, a pastor with The Apostolic Church retired from the church about 10 years ago to establish his own church.

The deceased was buried amidst wailing at his personal residence in Ede on Monday.

Adepoju, who was the best man when Oguntoye got married some years back, was said to have come from Ibadan, his base, to Gbongan where the deceased was and stabbed him on the left side of the chest.

Oguntoye, who was unaware of the motive of his friend’s visit was said to have welcomed Adepoju with open arms and the suspect, on sitting down reached out for his weapon and stabbed Oguntoye on the chest, head and other areas.

Oguntoye, 48, was said to have been hacked to death last Wednesday in Gbongan in the presence of his six-year-old son.

It was said that Adepoju accused the slain pastor of “using my glory.”


One of the church members, who identified herself as Damilola Adedeji, told our correspondent on Monday that Adepoju  prevented the deceased’s son from fleeing the scene and released him after he was satisfied that his father had died.

Adepoju was reported to have gone to the police station in the town and reported that he had killed his fellow pastor immediately after the incident.

The suspect was also said to have called his wife in Ibadan and informed her about what he had done. He also reportedly told the woman that she should consider herself a widow because the court could order that he should be killed.

Adedeji said, “We never expected what happened. Pastor Adepoju came from Ibadan where his family resides and he was dressed in a suit just like a pastor who is going to preach. Pastor Oguntoye did not know that he was hiding a knife in the suit, he brought out the knife and stabbed the pastor in his head, chest and stomach.

“Pastor was killed exactly five months after he was transferred to Gbongan. He was in Ede for about 12 years and nobody killed him.”

Tribute poured in for the deceased at the funeral service held at his residence in Ede on Monday.

The Police Public Relations Officer in Osun State, Mrs. Folasade Odoro, said the command was aware of the incident.

She said that the suspect was already in the police custody, adding that investigation was ongoing.