Nigeria: Gunman Shoots Lord’s Chosen Members

8th August, 2007

TWO members of the Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Ministries (aka) The Lord’s Chosen were early yesterday shot and wounded for allegedly preaching the gospel in Lagos.

The duo, it was gathered were shot on Mohammed Shefiu Street, Ago-Palace, Okota Isolo by a gunman who allegedly felt irritated by their style of preaching.

Already, the suspect is being detained at the Okota Police Station.

A witness who preferred anonymity told Daily Champion that the suspect, said to have been angered by their preaching, shot at them with a double barrel gun.

The victims identified as Chambalin Ikeagwunam and Okoye Ozoemenam narrowly escaped death as bullets hit them on the face and thigh respectively.

The witness added that save for the prompt intervention of good Samaritans who rushed them to a nearby hospital, the victims would have bled to death.

But narrating his ordeal to Daily Champion, Mr Ikeagwunam who sustained wounds on the face said, “the man was not comfortable with our style of preaching as he had severally threatened in the past to deal with those who normally go around to preach the gospel in the morning.

“While we were preaching the gospel of salvation, sanctification and baptism of the Holy Ghost as well as enjoining sinners to repent, the man brought out his gun and shot at us at a close range. If not for the power of the Almighty God who we were working for, the bullets would have touched vital parts of our bodies and we would have died but here we are in the land of the living,” he added.

The suspect, Mr. Ikeagwunam said, came out of his house and shot at them without blinking an eyelid.

Another victim, Mr Ozoemenam who sustained bullet wounds on his ankles, thigh and hand, said “we did not go near the man’s house but he heard us preaching and came out and fired at us.”

He noted that bullet pellet penetrated their body, making them unconscious before help came their way.

He disclosed that the pellet in his flash has not been removed as doctors in the hospital advised that he waited for some month before the operation would be done.

Meanwhile, attempts to speak to the accused at the police station proved abortive as at press time.

But reaching to the incident the head of information in the church, Pastor Chidi Louis described the act as “unbelievable, barbaric and criminal even as he enjoined the police to investigate the matter thoroughly.

“Chosen is the finger of God. No human being can stop it, we are out to liberate people from the bondage of occultism false religion and all manner of unrighteousness. Some of them would not like the message because it exposes the secret of their kingdoms but the Word of God must be preached all over the nation”, he said.

He, nonetheless, declared that the incident would not deter other members from carrying out God’s evangelization to the people.

When however, the state police spokesman, Mr Olubode Ojajuni a superintendent of Police (SP) was contacted he said “I am not yet aware of the incident but if it is true, the suspect would be interrogated on the source of the gun and even if he has licence he would be charged for attempted murder because the gun was not licensed to kill innocent people.”