The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, ordered the immediate refund of billions of naira traced to church projects after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) linked the funds to proceeds of alleged financial crimes.

EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, disclosed that Adeboye directed church officials to return the money within 24 hours after the commission informed him of the findings of its investigation.

Olukoyede made the revelation on Saturday, November 7, 2026, while addressing pastors, ministers and other workers of the RCCG at the Redemption City of God, Simawa, Ogun State.

The meeting followed the church’s monthly Holy Ghost Service and was organised to discuss ethical standards, financial propriety and the need for transparency in religious institutions.

Recounting the incident, the EFCC chairman said an individual under investigation for alleged financial crimes had made substantial donations to RCCG projects. However, investigations by the commission subsequently traced some of the funds to the church.

According to Olukoyede, the individual was involved in financial transactions running into tens of billions of naira, with some of the money eventually traced to RCCG projects.

He said he personally approached Adeboye to explain the commission’s findings, after which the cleric immediately instructed church officials to return every amount traced to the individual.

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Olukoyede said Adeboye was visibly displeased when he learnt about the source of the funds and gave the church officials 24 hours to return the money.

The EFCC chairman said the funds were subsequently returned to government coffers, commending the cleric for his response and describing it as an example of accountability.

He did not disclose the identity of the donor, the exact amount returned or the specific RCCG projects that received the funds.

Using the incident to warn religious organisations against questionable financial transactions, Olukoyede urged church leaders to investigate the sources of substantial donations before accepting them.

He cautioned that religious institutions must not become channels through which proceeds of crime are concealed or legitimised, stressing that religious status should not shield anyone from investigation or prosecution.

The EFCC boss also expressed concern about cases involving religious leaders allegedly implicated in financial misconduct, including questionable transactions and irregularities surrounding contracts for church projects.

He recalled a separate case involving another church allegedly linked to a Ponzi scheme, saying its leader initially resisted the commission’s intervention but eventually refunded a substantial amount after the EFCC threatened legal action.

Olukoyede did not identify the church or provide further details about the case.

He further warned against the growing influence of materialism, unhealthy competition and struggles for leadership positions in religious organisations.

The EFCC chairman raised concerns about reports of individuals allegedly offering money to secure ordination, promotion or leadership positions within the RCCG.

He described the offering or receiving of money in exchange for such positions as bribery, warning that both parties could be held accountable under the law.

Olukoyede also cautioned pastors against giving undue recognition to individuals whose wealth is suspected to be linked to financial crimes. He said churches should welcome people without using religious platforms to celebrate or promote questionable sources of wealth.

Responding to the EFCC chairman’s remarks, Adeboye reportedly assured him that the RCCG would not protect anyone found involved in financial wrongdoing.

The cleric also urged pastors and church workers to maintain proper financial records and ensure that their activities were free from corruption.

Olukoyede, who is also a senior pastor in the RCCG, said the fight against financial crimes must apply to everyone, irrespective of religious affiliation, position or influence.

He urged religious leaders to uphold transparency and accountability, warning that corruption within faith-based institutions could undermine public trust and the moral authority of religious organisations.

The Lagos State Police Command has detained an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Omotayo Olajide, after a bullet discharged from his firearm during a police operation in Ajegunle killed a young girl and injured another.

The incident occurred on Thursday, November 5, 2026, between 9:30 pm and 10 pm in the Nosamu area of Ajegunle, Lagos State, during a police response to a violent clash between two rival groups.

The police identified the deceased girl as Omole Taiwo, while the second victim is receiving medical treatment and is reportedly in stable condition.

According to the command, preliminary investigations showed that officers were deployed following a distress call over a clash between rival groups known as the Nosamu Boys and Alayabiagba Boys.

The groups were reportedly engaged in a violent confrontation over toll collection and allegedly armed with cutlasses and other dangerous weapons.

During the operation, ASP Olajide discharged his firearm, and the bullet struck the two girls.

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Both victims were immediately rushed to Ajeromi General Hospital for medical attention. However, Taiwo was later transferred to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, where she eventually died.

The police said the officer had been disarmed and detained, while the case had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the command’s spokesperson, SP Abimbola Adebisi, said the investigation would establish the circumstances surrounding the shooting and determine the appropriate legal and disciplinary action.

The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, Tijani Fatai, also visited the family of the deceased to express his condolences.

Fatai assured the bereaved family that the investigation would be thorough, adding that no police officer found culpable would be shielded.

The police have yet to establish whether the officer deliberately fired at the rival groups, whether the girls were caught in the line of fire or whether the firearm was discharged unintentionally.

The incident has renewed concerns over civilian safety during police operations and the need for accountability whenever security personnel use firearms in public places.

How Bandits Killed Two, Abducted 18 in Kaduna Village Raid

Two residents have been killed while at least 18 others, including women and children, were abducted after armed bandits attacked Akwando community in Kuturmi, Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

The attack reportedly occurred around midnight on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, when the gunmen stormed the community and launched an assault on residents in their homes.

A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the attackers killed two people before taking several villagers away to an unknown destination.

A security source familiar with the incident also confirmed the attack, telling Daily Trust that 18 residents were abducted while two people were killed.

“Yes, 18 villagers were abducted but two people were killed,” the source reportedly said.

The attack has heightened concerns over the worsening security situation in communities across the Kuturmi area, where residents have repeatedly suffered bandit attacks, killings and mass abductions.

The attackers had reportedly not contacted the families of the abducted residents or made any ransom demands as of the time the incident was reported.

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The deceased were identified as Irimiya Galadima, 41, and Benjamin Danlami, 32, by the Kuturmi Unity Development Association (KUDA).

However, the association gave a higher figure of 20 abducted residents, releasing their names in a statement jointly signed by its President, Dr Joseph Ariko, and Publicity Secretary, Manasseh Samuel Akwando.

Those listed include Usman Galadima, La’a’zarus Genesis, Madalin Markus, Happy Stephen, Lovet Ishaya, Afiniki Irimeya, Amina Ahmadu, Miracle Genesis, Hellen Irimeya and Musa Genesis.

Others are Janet Irimeya, Gloria Markus, Zila Stephen, Alis Ahmadu, Haske Ahmadu, Great Isiac, Hanatu Irimeya, Desmon Ishaya, Siam Shagari and Nansy Genesis.

The association expressed concern over repeated attacks on communities in Kuturmi land, recalling that an Easter Sunday attack on Ariko community reportedly killed five people at the scene, while another 17 victims subsequently died in captivity.

It also cited an attack on Awon community, where two people were reportedly killed and 11 others abducted.

According to KUDA, five of the abducted residents regained their freedom on November 3, but one reportedly died the following day. Another victim escaped, while five others died in captivity.

The association said the recurring attacks had forced residents to abandon their homes and farmlands, disrupted economic activities and created widespread fear across affected communities.

It further alleged that armed groups had restricted residents’ access to their ancestral lands, demanding levies before allowing them to cultivate their farms or harvest agricultural produce.

KUDA appealed to the Federal Government and the Kaduna State Government to urgently deploy adequately equipped security personnel to Akwando, Ariko, Awon and other vulnerable communities.

It also called for coordinated security operations to rescue the abducted residents, the establishment of permanent security posts, regular patrols and effective early-warning systems.

Meanwhile, some residents of Babban Saura PW in Millennium City, Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, abducted since October 1, were still being held captive.

Among them are Hafsat Sikiru and her son, Abdulsalam. Her husband and the boy’s father, Sikiru Shuaibu, was reportedly killed while attempting to protect his family during the attack.

Their continued captivity comes despite the recent rescue of eight kidnap victims by security operatives during a forest operation. One of those rescued was a pregnant woman abducted from her residence in Millennium City on October 6.

Kaduna State Police Command spokesperson, Mansir Hassan, could not be reached for comment on the Akwando attack, while the state Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs had yet to issue an official statement at the time of reporting.

How Bandits Killed Two, Abducted 18 in Kaduna Village Raid