Church also known as Winners Chapel in Benin, the Edo State yesterday.
According to NewTelegraphonline, members of the congregation received a
strange visit of emissaries of Omo N’Oba Nedo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba
Ewuare II, over a member, who reportedly committed suicide in the place
of worship.
It was learnt that family and members of the church had allegedly
brought down the victim from where he was dangling and rushed him to a
nearby hospital to conceal the incident and to avert consequences.
But the incident later attracted the attention of the Benin monarch who quickly deployed the Ewanse
(palace functionaries) to the church located on Upper Erhunwumse Street in the ancient town.
Following the intervention of the palace, tension was said to have
heightened among the leadership and members of the Pentecostal church as
they tried to ensure the case did not get out of hand.
It was learnt that the visit by palace functionaries was informed by an
alleged disobedience by leadership of the church to placate the gods of
Benin Kingdom over the abominable act.
At press time, policemen from Evboutubu Divisional Station were drafted to area to forestall any breakdown of law and order.
The palace functionaries engaged representatives of the church in a
dialogue which lasted several hours. The meeting aimed at resolving the
impasse.
The leader of the Ewanse group, who refused to disclose his name, said
the gathering would not have been necessary had the leadership of the
church done the needful as required in Benin tradition and culture.
He said the palace was angered because the church flagrantly removed a
traditional sign placed on the building by palace functionaries which
signifies an alleged abominable act was committed by a church worker.
He added that, as a matter of urgency, the leadership of the church must
visit the palace to enquire about the sacrificial items needed to
appease the gods of the land.
Efforts to get the comment of the pastor or a member of the church on
the incident yesterday failed as they all declined to speak on the
matter, NewTelegraphonline reports.
A source in the church disclosed that the deceased, whose name was not
readily known, was not a pastor as earlier speculated in some quarters.
The source added that though the victim had lost his life in the
hospital as some family and church members rushed him to a nearby
hospital immediately he was caught in the suicide act a few days ago.
The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Moses Nkombe, when
contacted on the incident yesterday, said details of the incident had
not been available to the command.
Also when contacted on the phone yesterday, the palace Public Relations
Officer (PRO), Mr. Odemwenmgie Donald, confirmed the incident.He said:
“I don’t even know the church where the incident occurred but I know that a pastor committed suicide there.”
On the visit of the Ewanse group from the palace, he said:
“There are various sections of palace functionaries, groups and
societies and they don’t inform us when they want to carry out any
function.”