MINNA – The Church of God Mission Int. (Inc.), Niger State branch, has been thrown into serious mourning, due to the situation of total devastation and disarray they have been subjected to by the Boko Harram Sect recently.
The Incident took place on the fateful day of January, 28, 2016, when the Pastor’s Wife, Mrs. Osawe Joy and the Assistant Pastor, Pst. Otabor Henry were kidnapped and killed during one of their usual evangelism outings, as an attempt to also get one of their main targets, Osayande Osazuwa Smith failed.
According to a very reliable senior church member source, who wouldn’t want his name for fear of victimization, that narrated the story to our correspondent recently under serious confidentiality, said the whole issue actually started on October 20, 2015.
He said their senior Pastor, Pst. Peter Osawe announced to all the members of the evangelism team, where Evang. Osayande Smith was a very active and leading member, that Boko Haram has sent them a clandestine letter, that they should stop evangelizing in Niger State or face the consequences.
Not taking the matter lightly, Pastor Osawe reported it to the Police and were advised, based on security, that they should actually stop and suspend the religious task of evangelism in the state for one month to douse down the tension. Then after a month and two weeks, the police equally gave them the clearance and go ahead to resume again, since majority of the Boko Haram sect members have been arrested in the state and that their stronghold has been broken and power their drastically reduced.
So they actually resumed their religious work again, not knowing that the sect members have gone to re-enforce from their nearby states to re arrange and re-organize their base to continue their onslaught again and struck on that fateful day of the attack, unexpectedly.
The source, who said he too was also present as a member of the evangelism team that very day, revealed that one of their active leaders, Evang Osayande Osazuwa Smith was lucky to have escaped the attackers, when everyone scampered for safety. Because he (Osayande) was one of their main targets, as they started looking desperately for him and shouting, “Kai, wey Smith, Shege Smith, Catch am Smith kill am and smith”.
Another source who added her voice said the young Osayande Osazuwa Smith in his mid twenties is a bini young man from the suburb of Benin City in Egor Local Government Area, she said he grew up and schooled in Niger State until the age of 12, when he could not continue and dropped out of school.
The source also added that his mother, who could not also continue the sponsorship due to lack of finance, then took him to the church to be staying with the Assistant Pastor, Pst. Otabor Henry who was also kidnapped and killed, where he finally grew up and became completely groomed in religion and also a high class evangelist and was well known, all over the places and hence he also became a target.
It was further concluded that since then, nobody knows his whereabouts and the sect members, are still desperately looking for him day and night. They have also vowed to get the young evangelist dead or alive, because they have sent his photograph to all their members in the country and neighboring countries too.
