Gunmen assassinate pastor in Benin

The Head founder and head pastor of Love Fire Ministry, a Benin-based Pentecostal church, Pastor Godwin Emmanuel, has been assassinated by unknown gunmen.

The deceased who was also known as Prophet Speed, was shot dead on Sunday night along Oko Central road, off Airport road, Benin, Edo state.

The late cleric was said to have founded the church about 11 months ago.

Head of media of the church, Festus Edema, who narrated the incident to journalists, said the pastor was on his way to distribute food items to members of the church who are in need and to drop one of his members at Oko Central road, when he was shot dead by yet to be identified gunmen.

Edema explained that the assassins pretended to be pushing their car that broke down.

“The man of God stopped for them to pass so that he can have his way. He never knew that they were the people came to attack him. So that is how they gave him shots in the chest and the stomach.

“Being the strong man, he still tried to put the car in reverse and as he was reversing the car, he hit the fence and they came to give him a close range shot that silenced him,” Edema explained.

Members of the church were seen discussing the sad incident when journalists visited the church, situated at 3, Ugiagbe Street, Ugbor Road, in Benin.

Edo State Police Commissioner, Mr. Haliru Gwandu, feels remorse about the upsurge in crime in Edo State, informing that men of his command were not relenting in their desire to rid the state of criminals.

He assured that those involved in the killing of the pastor will be brought to justice.

“My command is ever ready to deal decisively with night marauders,” Gwandu said.

Speaking with a member of the church who identified himself simply as Pastor Esquire, said the news of the death of cleric devastated him.

“When I heard about the news of his death, it was devastating and shocking. It is a painful one, very painful, but God will give us the strength to go through it,” Esquire said.