A well publicized church programme in Akoko South East area of Ondo state to exorcise the devil and its cohorts was disrupted by masquerades as the organizers were ironically dealt with instead, mid-way into the spiritual meeting.
There was pandemonium and stampede in a community Church which has a capacity of 100 worshippers as local masquerades invaded and disrupted a well publicized Church programme organized by the Christ Apostolic Church, in Epinmi, Akoko South East area of Ondo State, wildly flogging both the old and the young inside the church.
The programme was organized to exorcise the devil and its cohorts tormenting the people in the agrarian community as the organizers were ironically dealt with mid-way into the spiritual meeting from an unusual quarter - Masquerades.
It was learnt that four masquerades invaded the church and flogged all those present including two of their pastors. While some described it as sacrilegious others claimed that there is more to it than meets the eyes.
The incident is talk of the town since it happened last week as the church members and others within the town who were invited to the service held during the week went back home with bruises all over their bodies. The pastors of the church were hospitalized after receiving the beating of their lives.
Findings revealed that the masquerades, after their show across the town, were heading for their hideout to share their proceeds. They decided to pass through a short cut in order to escape the surging crowd following them to partake in the sharing. Unknown to them, the route they took led to the church where the service was in progress.
Some of the leaders of the church who were ushering invitees into the church formed a wall to prevent the masquerades from moving near the church. The leader of the masqueraders, Tunde Arohunmolase, who is now in police custody challenged the pastor and his members for disallowing them to use the footpath beside their church as their gateway.
He was said to have quoted the Bible (Psalm 24:1) “The earth is of the Lord and the fullness thereof” to the pastor. Tunde was said to have insisted that no human being has the right to stop others from passing through any land since it belongs to the Lord
Pastor and those that formed the wall refused to budge. Tunde was said to have signalled to his colleagues and they overran the human wall, headed straight to the church and flogged all those present during the service. Some members who could not escape through the doors used the windows as one of those that attended the service was spared from the beating by the masquerades.
Satisfied that they have dealt with the pastors and others, the masquerades reportedly left the church premises without taking anything from the church.
Nemesis later caught up with them as detectives who traced them after some church members had lodged a complaint, rounded them up while they were sharing their booty. Their leader was arrested while the two others escaped. He gave useful information while the fleeing masqueraders are being traced.