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Redeemed Pastor Murdered in Church by ‘New Converts’

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Suspected hoodlums have attacked and killed a pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God in FESTAC Town, in the Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos State.

Our correspondent gathered that the victim, Pastor Babatunde Dada, was killed inside the RCCG Chapel of Resurrection on 13 Road, 6th Avenue, FESTAC Town.

The killing, which happened on Thursday, December 2, was said to have been perpetrated by two new converts who came to the church for the first time a Sunday before the incident.

The two youths were said to have come out during an altar call and surrendered their lives to Jesus.

The church accommodated them on its premises after they claimed to be stranded.

They had barely spent a week in the church when they reportedly stabbed the cleric to death.

A senior pastor in the church, Akin Odejare, declined comment on the incident when contacted by PUNCH Metro.

However, the wife of the pastor, Bose, told our correspondent on the phone that she called her husband on the day of the incident and he promised to come home to rest.

She said, “My husband was killed on December 2 at the church. He was the admin/accounts officer, as well as the parish pastor. I was not with him when he was killed, but I was told that they collected money from him. I heard that those who killed him were new converts.”

A family member, who is also a security expert, Mr Abolarinwa  Olatunbosun, told our correspondent on Wednesday that the pastor was killed after withdrawing money from a bank.

He said, “The pastor went to a bank to withdraw some money and went to rest on the first floor of the church. Two persons said to be new converts went to meet him upstairs, broke his head and killed him.

“The matter was reported to the police and one of the suspects, who ran to Ilorin, has been arrested.”

Olatunbosun said the killing might be for ritual purposes, adding that the assailants were suspected Internet fraudsters, aka Yahoo boys.

The expert said criminals were beginning to attack churches and pastors because they believed there was money in church.

He advised religious centres to be security conscious and put in place strategies that could stop criminals from killing, kidnapping and robbing leaders and worshippers.

A friend of the slain pastor, Fred Enemigin, who is the founder, Highflyers International, Lagos, said in a Facebook post that the pastor was stabbed multiple times.

He wrote, “Two boys had come to church last Sunday and they responded to the altar call by giving their lives to Christ. After church service, they waited to see the head pastor and told him that they were stranded without any place to stay.

“On compassionate grounds, the pastor allowed them to stay somewhere within the church premises pending when they would be resettled. Pastor Tunde Dada, who had for almost a decade been the accountant of RCCG Chapel of Resurrection Parish, was assigned to provide needed welfare for the boys until their matter would be sorted.

“On the fateful Thursday, Tunde was seated in his office and the boys targeting that they were alone on the church premises with him, entered his office and attacked him with knives and other sharp weapons. He was stabbed multiple times and places until they had him killed right there on the spot.

“Our minds are still searching for what the rift between the boys and Tunde was considering the fact that the Tunde we knew was a very gentle soul. Could they have asked for more welfare than what was approved for them and Tunde declined? What on earth would warrant this brutal killing by those who were recipients of a server of the church’s benevolence? There are many more questions that we have not found answers to.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Adekunle Ajisebutu, said he had yet to be briefed about the case.

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Dangote Refinery Raises Petrol Price to N1,350 Per Litre

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The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has increased its Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) aka petrol, gantry price by 6.7 per cent to N1,350 per litre from N1,265 per litre, effective September 12, 2026.

The refinery also raised its coastal price to N1,783,530 from N1,669,543, representing an increase of N113,987, or 6.8 per cent.
In a memo to customers, Dangote Petroleum Refinery announced the revised prices, saying:

“Dear valued customer, please find below the revised DPRP PMS gantry and coastal price which is effective 12th September 2026.”

The refinery also directed customers with existing loading arrangements to return their Automated Truck Certificates, ATCs, for repricing.

It said: “You are advised to return all ATCs for repricing and a new volume contract will be issued for immediate loading resumption.”

The latest adjustment is expected to increase the acquisition cost of petrol for marketers sourcing supplies from the refinery and could put upward pressure on pump prices.
The increase comes amid renewed volatility in the international crude oil market, with Brent crude recently trading above $100 per barrel.

Nigeria’s downstream petroleum market operates under deregulation, with petrol prices influenced by crude oil costs, refining expenses, foreign exchange, logistics and market forces.

Consequently, the new Dangote price is expected to trigger reviews by marketers, although the extent of any adjustment at filling stations will depend on transportation, distribution costs, competition and prevailing market conditions.

The Dangote refinery has emerged as a major supplier of locally refined petrol as Nigeria seeks to reduce its dependence on imported petroleum products.

The latest increase could therefore have implications for consumers and businesses if marketers pass the higher acquisition cost through to retail prices.

Marketers are now expected to adjust their purchase and selling prices in response to the new Dangote petrol rates.

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Sex Romp in Osun Claims Male Partner’s Life, Woman Arrested

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The Osun State Police Command has arrested a woman after a vigilante member, identified as Sunday and popularly known as Apetu, died shortly after having a sexual encounter with her in Ile-Ife, Osun State.

A video circulated on social media showed the man in severe distress at Ooni Ilare Street, where he was heard pleading with the woman to give him urine.

The incident occurred on Sunday around 2:30pm in the Odi-Olokun area of Ile-Ife, after which the woman was taken into custody at the Moore Police Division.

According to a situation report attributed to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Apetu was found gasping, screaming and pleading with the woman while showing signs of severe physical distress after the encounter.

The report said the man eventually died from the incident, while his remains were deposited at the morgue of the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife.

The cause of Apetu’s death has not been officially established, despite claims by some residents that he died from what they described as a “thunderbolt.”

Authorities have not confirmed the claim or established any link between the traditional belief and the man’s death.

The belief centres on a traditional claim that a person affected by a supposed “thunderbolt” spell could harm another person through sexual contact. However, the claim has not been established as a medical or scientific explanation for the death.

A senior officer of the Osun State Police Command said the command was aware of the reports circulating on social media but warned members of the public against spreading unverified information.

The incident has drawn attention in Ile-Ife because of the conflicting accounts surrounding the sudden death.

Authorities have urged residents to remain calm and allow the police and relevant medical authorities to establish the actual cause of death.

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Basit Kolade: Lagos Police Confirm Mob Action, Arrest of Four Suspects

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The Lagos State Police Command has confirmed a mob action which allegedly led to the death of one Basit Kolade.

The victim was allegedly attacked by a group of individuals following a road traffic incident at Freeman Street, Lagos Island, on Wednesday, 2nd September 2026, at about 10:40 p.m, a statement signed by the Public Relations Officer, SP Adebisi Abimbola, and made available to the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP), said.

The Police noted in the stateent as follows:

Preliminary investigation revealed that Basit Kolade was travelling with his spouse, from Ebute Metta towards Lagos Island in a black Lexus Jeep, with registration number KSF 115 JZ, when a motorcycle allegedly collided with the vehicle from behind.

An argument reportedly ensued between both of them. In the course of the incident, the vehicle allegedly reversed and hit the motorcycle, causing the rider and the motorcycle to fall. This reportedly attracted a group of individuals in the area, who allegedly attacked Basit with dangerous weapons. His spouse was rescued by some women in the vicinity, while Kolade was rushed to the Lagos Island General Hospital, where he was subsequently confirmed dead. The motorcycle rider who was allegedly hit in the incident is, however, alive and currently receiving medical treatment in a hospital.

Four (4) suspects have so far been arrested in connection with the attack. They are Khalid Rafiq ‘m’ 20 years; Gafar Rahim ‘m’ 21 years; Ibrahim Azeez ‘m’ 33 years; and Samos Momoh ‘m’ 21 years. Efforts are ongoing to identify and arrest other persons who allegedly participated in the attack.

The Command has commenced an investigation into the incident, which is being treated as a homicide case, and the matter has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, for further investigation and appropriate legal action.

The Command wishes to reiterate that the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, guarantees every person the fundamental right to life under Section 33. The Constitution permits deprivation of life only in circumstances specifically recognised by law.

Similarly, under the Criminal Law of Lagos State, unlawful killing constitutes an offence of homicide. The law provides that unlawful killing may amount to murder or manslaughter depending on the circumstances. In particular, the provisions on murder cover unlawful killing with the intention to kill or cause grievous harm, with the law prescribing severe punishment upon conviction.

The Command therefore warns members of the public against mob action, jungle justice, and the resort to self-help under any circumstance. No individual or group has the legal authority to arrest, try, convict, or execute another person.

The warning is consistent with the directive of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, psc(+), NPM, who has directed Police Commands to treat cases involving mob action resulting in death as homicide and warned that persons who participate in, organise, incite, or support such attacks will face the full weight of the law.

The Command reiterates that suspicion or an allegation of wrongdoing does not confer on anyone the right to take the law into their own hands. Members of the public are urged to promptly report criminal incidents to the Police and allow the law to take its course.

The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Tijani Fatai, psc, mnips, has directed that all persons found culpable in the incident be identified, arrested, and prosecuted in accordance with the law. He assures members of the public that the investigation will be thorough and professional, and that all persons found to have participated in the attack or otherwise contributed to the death will be made to face the law.

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