Just in: Tears as RCCG Pastor killed by abductors, finally buried

The pastor of Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Olugbenga Adedolapo Olawore, who was abducted and murdered by kidnappers on Lanlate-Eruwa road, was on Tuesday buried as Christian faithful, friends and relations mourned him.

The burial took place at a cemetery in Mowo, off Badagry expressway, Lagos State, after a church service at the RCCG (City of His Glory), zonal headquarters along Badagry expressway. People who gathered there wore sombre looks. Some shed tears as the atmosphere turned sombre.

In his ministration, a cleric, Pastor G. Aribisala, quoting Psalms 90:4 andq Ecclesiastes 3:2, declared the shortnessq of life, but added that the deceased had lived his life, fulfilled his time and purpose.

“One day, we will see him face to face because we will all die one day.

“Life is a market. When you get there does not determine when you will leave.

“We shall all give account and face judgement one day. His killers will not escapeq judgment,” he said.

The pastor enjoined all to live their lives to satisfy God, just as Pastor Olawore lived and served God diligently.

He prayed for the deceased’s family and asked God to protect them and make themq untouchable for the enemies.

At the graveside, the assistant pastor in charge of Lagos Province 73, which was headed by Pastor Olawore before his sudden death, Pastorq Simeon Olaniran, gave a short message before the lowering of the casket into the grave.

Quoting Hebrew 9:27, Pastor Olaniran pointed out that every humanq being has one life to live, after which judgmentq comes.

He urged everyone to repent of their wrong acts before it would be too late.

The deceased’s younger brother, Mr Bolaji Olawore, who gave vote of thanks, expressed appreciation for theq support given by all at a trying period for the family.

On Monday, the wake keep service was held for the late pastor at his residence at Edu town, Off Agbara-Lusada road, Ogun State.

In his exhortation, the cleric who presided over the wake keep service, Pastor Hunpe Emmanuel, titled his message: ‘There is a timing for everyone.’

In reference to a song, Pastor Emmanuel described God as a fountain of life which is flowing everywhere, giving an assurance that whosoever tastes Him will never thirst again.

He said: “There is a time that everyone will get to their bus stop and alight,” cautioning those in attendance to get prepared for their own timing.

He said that the testimonies of the deceased given by the people were enough assurances that he was in heaven.

He enjoined the late pastor’s nuclear and extended family members to take solace in God, and thereafter prayed for and handed them over to God for safekeeping.

Paying tributes to the late pastor, Reverend Komolafe of the Anglican Church in the neighbourhood, described the deceased as a perfect gentleman and a prayer champion.

A next door resident, Mrs Tomchukwu, spoke on his gentleness, saying that he never had quarrels with neighbours.

Pastor Mrs Oladele recalled how the deceased gave her money on two occasions to connect electricity in her house, having been in darkness for years in their new house.

The last born of the Olawore family, Kolawole, who shed tears uncontrollably, described the late pastor as a soldier.

He noted that life was full of mystery as he fought battle till death, assuring the deceased’s wife that nobody in the family would intimidate her.

A brother-in-law described Pastor Olawore as a peace-loving man who was more of his brother since he married his sister 20 years ago.

The deceased’s wife, Mrs Olawore, said until his sudden death, her husband was her friend, father and companion who loved God and always went into the neighbourhood to preach the gospel of repentance.

When RCCG pastors were contacted for comment, the move was politely declined, as they said that they were not in the position to speak with the media.

Pastor Olawore was in charge of Heavens Gate Parish, Lagos Province 73, along Agbara-Lusada Road, Ogun State, before his demise penultimate week after he was kidnapped by gunmen at Maya axis of Lanlate-Eruwa Road, along with other passengers in a commercial bus on Thursday, April 18 at about 5:00p.m.

Nigerian Tribune learnt that he went to his hometown, Ipapo Town, to put final touches to the burial arrangement for his mother who died in February.

He had boarded a commercial bus on his return trip home when the occupants were confronted with sporadic shots by kidnappers.

One of the passengers, a female, reportedly died instantly, while the remaining ones were shepherded into the bush by fully-armed abductors.

The kidnappers were said to have started calling family members of their victims, including the pastor’s wife, for payment.

However, things turned awry for unknown reason on Friday, a day after the abduction, making the kidnappers to kill the victims they held in hostage, except two of them who were able to escape.

Nigerian Tribune further learnt that though the pastor’s family had learnt of his murder by the kidnappers, the news was broken to his wife on Monday, April 21.

The wake keep service for the pastor’s mother had been slated for April 26, while her burial was to be on Friday, May 3.

The late pastor was born in 1971 and was 53 years old when he died.

He attended The Polytechnic, Ibadan, Lagos State University and University of Lagos where he got NCE certificate, B.Sc and M.Sc degrees respectively.