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Less than seven days to the ninth “Adult Harvest Thanksgiving Service” of the Celestial Church of Christ, Testimony Parish, Elerumoke, Egbeda, Iyana Ajia in Egbeda Local Government Area of Oyo State, suspected thieves desecrated the temple of God and made away with two large cows meant for the celebration of the thanksgiving. The animals were worth about N2 million.
The thieves had struck last Saturday after the shepherd-in-charge of the parish and other notable leaders of the church had gone to bed.
Members of the various committees set up by the church were taken by surprise when they learnt of the theft.
A leader of the church identified as Oluso Ayo confirmed the incident to Saturday Tribune on Thursday.
He 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 church members who preferred anonymity said: “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 church had earlier posted on its X account: “Hallelujah. Two missing Cows: Dear Celestials and the general public, these two huge cows were stolen where they were tied in the church premises at CCC, Testimony Parish, Elerumoke area, Egbeda, Iyana Ajia, Ibadan, Oyo State.
“They were meant to be slaughtered for the ninth Adult Harvest Thanksgiving of the church coming up this Sunday, 17th November, 2024.
“We hereby solicit your prayer for the quick recovery of these harvest thanksgiving cows. Anybody with useful information should contact the Parish Shepherd, Prophet Rotimi Agunbiade Temitope.”
The Shepherd-in-Charge, Temitope, who was said to be out of town during our correspondent’s visit to the church, confirmed the incident to Saturday Tribune in a telephone chat.
“The incident happened a few days to the church adult harvest scheduled for Sunday, 17th November, 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, as you can see, 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 neighborhood 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.”