Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
A 64-year-old cleric of the Celestial Church of Christ (CCC) has reportedly been beaten to death after unidentified assailants stormed his church premises in the Waru District of Abuja, prompting a police investigation and renewed calls for authorities to establish the circumstances surrounding the killing.
The deceased, Ven. Sup. Evang. Onaduja Oluwafemi Gbeminiyi, also known as Perry, was the Shepherd-in-Charge of the CCC Castle of Mercy Parish in Waru. Reports of the incident say he was attacked on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, while worshippers were gathered at the church for a mercy service that began at about 9am.
According to preliminary accounts circulated by Celestial Reality Check and subsequently reported by other media, the attackers allegedly entered the church premises and went directly to the apartment occupied by the Shepherd-in-Charge. They reportedly dragged Gbeminiyi outside, where a struggle broke out between the cleric and the assailants.
Gbeminiyi, who was reportedly a retired soldier, is said to have resisted the attackers. The confrontation allegedly lasted several minutes before the assailants overpowered him and inflicted serious injuries. Accounts of the incident say the cleric screamed for help during the attack, but assistance did not arrive before the attackers fled.
Neighbours and other people subsequently rushed to the scene and reportedly transported the injured cleric to a hospital. He was later confirmed dead, according to accounts of the incident. The precise medical cause of death has not been independently established in publicly available reports.
The killing has raised questions within the church community and among residents about how unidentified attackers were able to enter the premises, reach the Shepherd's apartment and carry out the assault. It has also generated concern about whether there had been previous threats or disputes involving the cleric.
The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has reportedly commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death. The investigation is expected to establish what happened before, during and after the attack and to identify those responsible.
The police have not, in the publicly available reporting reviewed for this story, announced the identities of any suspects or disclosed a confirmed motive for the killing. Consequently, claims about who may have been responsible or why the cleric was targeted remain unsubstantiated.
Another significant development in the case concerns the church's assistant shepherd. Reports indicate that he was invited by the police for questioning and subsequently detained as investigators sought information about the circumstances surrounding the incident.
However, detention or questioning does not establish criminal responsibility. No finding of guilt has been made against the assistant shepherd, and any allegation concerning his possible involvement would have to be established through evidence and due legal process.
The circumstances surrounding the assistant shepherd's detention have also not been fully explained in the available reports. Investigators will need to determine who was present at the church when the attack occurred, what each witness observed and whether there was any prior interaction between the deceased and the attackers.
The investigation may also have to establish how the assailants gained access to the premises and whether anyone assisted them before or after the attack. These questions are particularly important because the reported incident occurred within a religious compound where worshippers were present.
The killing has left members of the Castle of Mercy Parish and the wider Celestial Church community mourning the loss of a senior cleric. Gbeminiyi had served as the shepherd of the parish and was known within the church community as Olufemi Perry Onaduja.
Public information about the parish indicates that Gbeminiyi was associated with the Castle of Mercy Parish in Waru and had participated in the church's activities before his death. Previous parish materials and online posts identify Olufemi Perry Onaduja with the church's religious activities.
Following his death, funeral arrangements were reportedly held in Abuja. His remains were said to have been interred at Gudu Cemetery on Thursday, while a service of songs was held at the church premises.
The speed with which the burial took place means that many questions surrounding the killing remain dependent on the outcome of the police investigation. A transparent investigation will be necessary to establish a reliable account of the events and determine whether anyone should face criminal charges.
For the family, parishioners and members of the wider community, the central concern is establishing who killed the cleric and why. The identity of the attackers, their motive and the circumstances that preceded the assault remain among the key unanswered questions.
The case also highlights wider concerns about the safety of religious leaders and worshippers in places of worship, particularly when attacks occur within premises that communities ordinarily regard as safe spaces. Any conclusion about broader patterns, however, would require evidence beyond this individual incident.
Police investigators are therefore likely to face pressure to provide clarity as their work progresses. Establishing the sequence of events, gathering statements from witnesses, examining any available physical or digital evidence and determining the circumstances surrounding the cleric's injuries will be important to resolving the case.
At present, the available information establishes only that Gbeminiyi died after an alleged assault at his church premises and that the FCT Police Command is investigating. The identities of the attackers and the motive for the killing have not been publicly established.
The family, church members and the wider Abuja community will now await the outcome of the investigation. Any person eventually identified as responsible should be dealt with according to Nigerian law, while anyone questioned or detained in connection with the investigation should be afforded due process and the presumption of innocence unless guilt is established by a competent court.
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