Full gist of the labourer’s death in Celestial church
After a laborer died while working on the premises of the Celestial Church of Christ, Overcomers Parish in Lagos State, Nigeria, the church found itself embroiled in allegations of ritual killing.
The incident occurred on June 1, 2023, when the church building was set on fire by an angry mob.
The deceased, identified as Amos (popularly known as Dongo), was a father of three and also worked as a motorcycle rider in the neighborhood.
The church had hired him to clear the septic tank, which he began doing around midnight.
According to the church leaders, Amos slipped off the ladder while working, leading to his fall and subsequent death……………………………....CONTINUE READING
However, his relatives and several residents suspected foul play.
Amos’ brother, Peter, stated that when they inspected the cesspit, they discovered it was not deep enough to have caused his drowning.
They also found torn clothes and a piece of cloth believed to have been used to strangle him, as well as a wristwatch that did not belong to Amos.
The allegation of ritual killing sparked outrage among the community members, resulting in the destruction of the church building.
Isaac, a resident, explained that the inconsistent information regarding the whereabouts of Amos’ body fueled the anger that led to the arson.
Eventually, the mob discovered Amos’ lifeless body inside a room in the church. In a video recording, his body could be seen on the floor, surrounded by mourners.
Isaac Yisa, one of Amos’ relatives, raised doubts about the church’s account of his death.
He questioned whether the septic tank slab broke while Amos was inside it or while he was trying to climb out.
Moreover, the ladder used was too strong to fit into the tight space of the septic tank, making it unlikely for a person to fall inside.
Isaac also mentioned seeing blood on Amos’ eyes, mouth, and torn shirt.
Seun Mojeed, another resident, recounted his visit to the church after learning about the incident.
He described finding Amos’ body covered with two white clothes and showing signs of being beaten to death.
This discovery further fueled the mob’s accusations against the church, including allegations that Amos’ eyes and genitals were missing.
The Senior Shepherd of CCC Overcomers’ Parish, James Aso, vehemently denied the allegations of ritual killing.
Speaking from his hospital bed, he recounted the efforts made by church members to rescue Amos and revive him.
Aso disputed claims that he had instructed Amos to work at midnight, emphasizing that it was against their practices.
He also mentioned seeking help from the police, but the situation quickly escalated beyond their control.
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the incident, stating that Amos fell into the septic tank while performing his job.
He clarified that the body was not mutilated and that no arrests had been made.
On the official website of CCC, the church’s media officer, Superior Evangelist Kayode Ajala, issued a statement refuting the allegations of ritual killing.
Ajala accused hoodlums and commercial motorcycle riders of carrying out the arson and inflicting injuries on the church’s leaders.
The church emphasized that Amos had willingly taken on the job and had been paid for it in advance.
They claimed that Amos slipped and fell into the septic tank, and in the process of rescuing him, the assistant shepherd also fell in.
Despite their rescue efforts, Amos was pronounced dead at the hospital.
The church denounced the reports aimed at tarnishing its reputation and appealed for the public to disregard them.
