Suspected thieves have carted away two cows worth N2 million after invading the Celestial Church of Christ, Testimony Parish, Elerumoke, Egbeda at Iyana Ajia in Egbeda Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The cows were said to have been bought by the Celestial Church for its ninth “Adult Harvest Thanksgiving Service”.
Reports said that the thieves struck last Saturday after the shepherd-in-charge of the parish and other notable leaders of the church had gone to bed.
A leader of the church, Oluso Ayo, who confirmed the incident on Thursday, November 21, 2024, said: “The incident really happened. Suspected thieves invaded our church premises and made away with two cows meant for the harvest celebration. The cows, which were tethered, were untied by the suspected thieves.
“We saw the footprints of the thieves and the cows but we cannot say the exact place the animals were taken to.
“We learnt that such an incident had happened in the neighbourhood before, but not in our church.”
One of the Celestial Church members who preferred anonymity also told Nigerian Tribune: “If this thing could happen in a church environment, where else is safe in this country?
“I have never heard before that thieves invaded a church and stole cows, not minding the sizes. The incident is a further confirmation that things have gone awry in this country.”
The Parish Shepherd, Prophet Rotimi Temitope, also confirmed the incident on Friday, November 22.
The cleric said: “The incident happened a few days to the church adult harvest scheduled for Sunday, November 17, 2024.
“The cows were purchased with the contributions made by the members. Sadly, their aim of having a bountiful harvest was defeated with the activities of the men of the underworld.
“The cows were so huge that nobody would have expected them to be stolen. The two cows cost us one million, nine hundred and eighty thousand naira.
“The thieves took advantage of the yet-to-be-completed perimeter fence of the church.
“However, work has commenced on the completion of the perimeter fence in order to forestall a recurrence of such incident.
“We were told that the incident was not new in the neighbourhood but this is the first time that we would experience it in our church.
“Even though the incident dealt a devastating blow on the church, the 2024 Adult Harvest was held.”
