Gunmen kill pastor in Edo

Suspected gunmen have killed the Head Pastor of Love Fire Ministry, Pastor Godwin Emmanuel, 

The pastor of the Benin-based church, also known as Prophet Speed, was said to have been shot on Sunday along Oko Central Road in Benin.

It was learnt that the deceased was on his way to deliver food items to some indigent members of his church in the area when he was attacked by unidentified gunmen.It was also gathered that the cleric founded his church 11 months ago.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Moses Nkombe, could not be reached for comments.

But the spokesman for the church, Festus Edema, said the gunmen had pretended to be pushing a faulty vehicle on the road, a development which prompted the pastor to slow down.

Edema said the attackers immediately shot him in the chest and stomach when he slowed down.

He added that the gunmen later shot their victim at a close range when they saw that he was still alive.

He said, “The man of God stopped for them to pass. But they shot him in the chest and the stomach. Being a strong man, he still tried to put the car in reverse.

“As he was reversing, he hit a fence and the assailants came to shoot him at a close range; that silenced him.”

A member of the church, who identified himself simply as Pastor Esquire, said the cleric’s death had left him and other members devastated.

He said, “His death is devastating and shocking. It is a painful one; but God will give us the strength to go through it.”