The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) expressed sadness following the death of pastor, Kayode Oluwakemi, who was killed by kidnappers in Ogun State on Sunday.

Wakadaily gathered that, at about 12:00 midnight on Saturday during a vigil, gunmen stormed Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) parish in Abule-Ori, Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun, killing the pastor and abducting seven members of the church, whom had been rescued.

Reacting, the General Secretary, CAN, Dr Stephen Adeyemi, expressed sadness and urged the government to step up efforts to stop insecurity around worship centres in the state.

He said: “It is a very sad incident. And sincerely, this brings to mind a kind of question that, is it now a sin for the worshipers to gather to worship God? We are talking about being in the church, our sanctuary. We are talking about worshipers gathering in the temple to pray, praise and sing and all these attacks are coming to the children of God right in the house of God.

“Sincerely speaking, it is worrisome and it is already creating fear in the kind of society we find ourselves in. It is like saying that we are not safe. This has happened before; now it is happening again, under a new government.

“It means we need to cry to the government the more. I believe that this problem has a solution. We are crying to the government. The government needs to look into this issue of insecurity. How these people come freely into the house of God, operate and go away like that. The government needs to help us with this.”

The Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, while confirming the incident said one of the pastors of the church, Adesina Oyesegun, reported the case to the police.

She said, “The hoodlums were shooting sporadically, as a result, a pastor, Kayode Oluwakemi, 56, sustained bullet wounds in his chest and unfortunately died on the spot. The kidnapped victims have regained their freedom. An effort is in progress to arrest other fleeing suspects that are still at large. “