A popular pastor and businessman in Lagos has narrated 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 strong preachings, evangelism, and religious inclination.
Mr. Derick Osazuwa, 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 Derick Osazuwa, 52, sometime in June last year during a powerful crusade organised by his branch in Igando Lagos state converted one Musa and another Muhammed of the Muslim faith to christians. 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 been on his trail, vowing to hack him down before he converts all Muslims to Christianity through his preachings.
After so many horrible assassination attempts, a resolute Pastor Derick, determined not to cave in to the death threats, but still wants 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, children and mother-in-law in another undisclosed part of the country.
As if their Lagos escapades were not enough, Derick Osazuwa’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 Derick Osazuwa 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.
Pastor Derick Osazuwa 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 by this reporter, during a fact finding visit to contact the Islamic hierarchy in the area, proved abortive as no one was willing to talk to us. But some few residents who spoke to us in secret and on condition of anonymity, confirmed Pastor Osazuwa’s claims.