OGUN PASTOR ALLEGEDLY KILLS WIFE OVER INFIDELITY, LATER DIES AFTER RUNNING INTO TRUCK
A pastor and his wife have died following a violent domestic dispute allegedly linked to accusations of infidelity in Akiode Ibogun, Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State.
The incident reportedly occurred in the early hours of Monday, August 31, at the couple’s residence beside the Celestial Church of Christ, Iri Orun Parish, which they owned. The husband, identified as Bidemi Odukoya, served as the church’s Shepherd.
According to community sources, Odukoya allegedly attacked his wife during an argument, leaving her dead at their residence before fleeing the area.
The pastor was later reported dead after he allegedly ran into a moving truck along the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway in the Ifo area.
The Baale of Akiode Ibogun, Chief Taiwo Akiode, said residents were alerted to the incident at about 3am.
He said residents and police officers who went to the couple’s home found the woman lying in a pool of blood, with injuries believed to have been inflicted with a machete. Residents also alleged that a wooden stool was used during the attack.
Odukoya was reportedly no longer at the residence when the police and community members arrived.
Chief Akiode said information later reached the community around 7am that the pastor had died on the expressway.
According to him, witnesses in Ifo claimed Odukoya had repeatedly crossed the expressway before sitting on the road divider. He was then said to have moved in front of an approaching truck and was fatally struck.
The couple had reportedly lived in the community for about nine or 10 years and were known by some residents as friendly and respectful.
However, residents said the marriage had experienced prolonged disagreements.
The community youth leader, Seun Adelana, said allegations of infidelity involving both the husband and wife were believed to have contributed to the final confrontation.
He said Odukoya was allegedly accusing his wife of having a relationship with another man, while there were also claims that the pastor himself was involved with another woman.
A neighbour, Oluwatoyin Oseni, gave a different account, saying the couple had a history of domestic violence and had reportedly been involved in several previous fights.
Oseni said she had recently helped care for the woman after one of their disputes and that the couple had stopped speaking to each other since June following another disagreement.
She also said the police had previously intervened in their marital problems.
According to Oseni, the couple’s 14-year-old son, Daniel, woke her at about 2am after discovering that his father had attacked his mother.
She said neighbours who rushed to the house found the woman’s lifeless body on the floor, covered in blood.
Oseni further alleged that Odukoya was still at the scene carrying a cutlass when neighbours arrived. She said the pastor appeared calm and told her that he was also “as good as gone.”
Another community leader, Chief Oluwasegun Adeboye, said residents only became aware of the extent of the couple’s marital problems after the incident.
He claimed the couple had previously taken their disagreement to court and were advised to return home and attempt to resolve their differences amicably.
According to him, they were expected to return to court on Wednesday, but the situation ended tragically two days earlier.
Chief Akiode described the incident as unprecedented in the community and urged couples experiencing marital difficulties to seek counselling and intervention before conflicts escalate.
The Ogun State Police Command has confirmed that it is investigating the incident.
The Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Opeyemi Oluborode, said the command was aware of the case and that the file was being transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
