NIGERIA – Police operatives from the Ejigbo Division in Lagos have arrested Pastor Anthony Israel of the Jesus Disciples Assembly Church for allegedly killing AbdulRahman Olugbade, a 17-year-old, and secretly burying him in an incomplete room. The incident occurred on Monday, September 2, 2024, at Jesus Assembly Street in the Omoguwa area of Ejigbo. Pastor Israel had been given free accommodation by the deceased’s mother, Mrs. Temitope Olugbade.

The motive behind the murder, which occurred while AbdulRahman was sleeping, has not been disclosed by the police. It is alleged that Pastor Israel used a knife to slit the victim’s throat and then borrowed a shovel and hammer from a neighbor to dig a shallow grave in an uncompleted room. The crime was discovered when the landlady’s dog’s persistent barking drew attention to the disturbed area.

The deceased’s younger brother became suspicious when he couldn’t find AbdulRahman and went to investigate the dog’s barking. He found the area disturbed and raised an alarm, leading to the neighbors’ intervention. Pastor Israel had fled but was later apprehended by the community the following day.

During a visit to the scene, neighbors expressed shock, describing AbdulRahman as a quiet and hardworking young man. Mrs. Temitope Olugbade was also in shock, explaining that she had provided accommodation to Pastor Israel due to his housing problems and was devastated to learn of the murder.

At the Ejigbo Police Division, members of Pastor Israel’s church gathered in disbelief, awaiting updates on the case. The Ejigbo DPO, CSP Vera Akpa-Ameh, has ordered the exhumation of the body for an autopsy.

The DPO was reported to be out for routine monitoring, but sources indicated that Pastor Israel will be transferred to the SCID Yaba for further investigation and could face life imprisonment if charged and convicted under state criminal laws.