Labourer’s death: Why CCC shepherd, Aso James, refuses to run from attack by the mob

Due to a violent attack by an angry mob on a branch of the Celestial Church of Christ, Overcomers Parish, Ajah, Lagos over the death of a labourer popularly known as ‘Dongo’, a Hausa man residing close to the church.

The incident has left the church’s shepherd and other members in critical condition. The irate mob also set fire to the church building after vandalizing it and looting its property.

Despite various sources of lies and conspiracy over the white garment church, after confirmation from police that the accident was not due to rituals, it has been circulated that no part of the deceased was missing. The source also revealed that it was not the description of the Shepherd or the church engaging the laborer at midnight as it had also been mischievously circulated to dent the image of the church and the Shepherd.

“Shepherd Aso is a popular Shepherd in Ajah, Lekki axis, he left the biggest Celestial Church, DMC parish in Ajah recently to move to Overcomer, he’s well known and generous, he’s Shepherd with high intelligence and he’s one of the most respected Celestial Shepherd. What happened was an accident not ritual as it has been circulated, those people making mischievous videos are earning for their social media account, they want to eat, and such controversy is their joy,” a close ally to Shepherd James Aso, Evangelist Gabriel Olaonipekun.

“Did anybody know that this same Shepherd Aso is a benefactor of the Hausa man called ‘Dongo’? Are they aware that Aso at some point paid the man’s two children school fees and the man has always been an errand person to Aso? Are they also aware that he washes Aso’s car most times and has been coming to the church premises without asking him questions. It’s quite unfortunate that nobody wants to hear the truth because they can’t make money through that, because this is a white garment church.”

He continued: “The police know the truth, everything happened in their presence and they are the ones that advised Shepherd Aso to call the deceased relations, so the rumours of removing the deceased parts are completely false. He’s a Shepherd of class, you can go and ask the churches around there, Aso doesn’t take nonsense even the Celestial church authorities know the capacity of Shepherd Aso. What happened was just an accident, it could happen to anybody but unfortunately, we are in a society where people don’t respect the law. And I want to believe the government will intervene to evaluate the truth from the whole scene and let those circulating fake news face the law.”

A video showed the naked and battered body of the Senior Shepherd of the church, VSE Aso James. The Shepherd’s wife, who is still in shock, advised the Shepherd, flees before the attack but he refused.

“Immediately, we heard they are coming to the secretary’s house where we hide, I told him to let us flee to avoid any attack but he refused, he told me and the other members to run for our lives and allowed him to meet the angry Hausa boys and speak the language to them if that could down the tension. I was begging him to run, but Aso believed it was not right for him to do that as a leader, and that is why he’s facing these unbearable consequences,” Funmilayo Aso said in a telephone conversation.

Mrs. Aso James revealed that the deceased, Dogo, was a known face in the church.

A senior member of the church, Assistant Shepherd of the Parish, Senior Evangelist Ayotunde Oladipupo, and the Shepherd of the church are currently in critical condition in a Lagos hospital.

Until his death, he was always doing one thing or the other for the church.

As at the time of this report, a source from Langbasa police station, Ajah said authorities from police headquarters Abuja have directed the case file to Panti, Lagos.

“The Celestial Church has issued a statement and they are ready to investigate the matter, as a matter of fact, the case has been directed to Panti because Police authorities from Abuja have intervened, probably those who are circulating fake news would be called for proper investigation,” our source revealed in anonymity.

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