A popular pastor and business man in Lagos has come out of his hiding place to narrate his ordeal in the hands of suspected Islamic bigots and religion fanatics who have been on his trail since well over a year because of his great preachings, evangelism, and religious inclination.
Mr. Abe Adewale Akinola, a renowned pastor and business man in the Igando axis of Lagos mainland has won several souls for Christ with his stern and sound sermons, condemning in strong terms the brutal killings and assasination of Christians in several parts of Nigeria.
It will be recalled that, Pastor Abe Adewale, 52, sometimes in June last year during a powerful crusade organised by his branch in Igando Lagos state converted one Musa, and another Muhammed, both of the Muslim faith to Christianity, a development that has brought agony and disaster the way of the pastor who has since known no real peace as some Islamic bigots have since been on his trail, vowing to hack him down before he converts all Muslims in the neighbourhood to christianity through his preachings
After so many horrible assassination attempts, a resolute Pastor Abe, determined not to cave in to the death threats, but still willing to do more for his God, had to run for dear life, leaving Lagos for a friend’s place in Abeokuta to seek refuge after having arranged a safe relocation for his wife and children in another undisclosed part of the country.
As if their Lagos escapades were not enough, Abe Adewale Akinola’s assailants again traced the pastor down to his friend’s place in Abeokuta, this time fully armed and more ferocious. It was a close shave for Adewale as he was able to escape by the whiskers upon a quick tip off from a neighbor who had sighted the assailants and had heard them mentioning his name.
In his words, ”After that horrible close shave some few days ago, I have been in hiding here in Abeokuta for the past three days… I hardly eat nor drink because I have lost appetite for food and life… I had to summon the courage to do the needful and let the world know about my persecution.”
Pastor Abe Adewale Akinola who visited this reporter in the early hours of Friday the 6th of October 2023 to explain his ordeal, presented copies of an affidavit and police report where he had urged the relevant security authorities to come to his aid before it’s too late.
Efforts during a fact finding visit to contact the Islamic hierarchy in the area, proved abortive as no one was willing to talk to them.
However, some few residents who spoke in secret and on condition of anonymity, confirmed Pastor Adewale’s claims and miracles.