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Woman killed after she opened fire in Joel Osteen’s megachurch

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3 years ago

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Woman killed after she opened fire in Joel Osteen’s megachurch

HOUSTON — A woman in a trenchcoat opened fire with a long gun Sunday inside celebrity pastor Joel Osteen’s megachurch in Texas, sending worshippers rushing to find safety while two off-duty officers confronted and killed the shooter. Two other people were shot and injured, including a 5-year-old boy who was in critical condition.

The violence erupted shortly before the Houston church’s 2 p.m. Spanish service was set to begin, just as the rest of the country was preparing for the Super Bowl. The woman entered the enormous Lakewood Church – a building with a 16,000-person capacity that was previously an arena for the NBA’s Houston Rockets — with the boy who was later hurt in the shootout with police. A man in his 50s was also wounded.

Details of the confrontation remain unclear in the hours after the tragedy, and police have not released the woman’s identity or a possible motive. It’s also unknown what relationship, if any, the woman had to the boy, and who actually shot him and the man.

“I will say this,” Houston Police Chief Troy Finner told reporters during a news conference outside the church. “That female, that suspect, put that baby in danger. I’m going to put that blame on her.”

The boy was in critical condition at a children’s hospital, while the man was stable at a different hospital with a hip wound.

The shooting happened between services at the megachurch that is regularly attended by 45,000 people every week, making it the third-largest megachurch in the U.S., according to the Hartford Institute for Religion Research. Osteen said the violence could have been much worse if it had happened during the earlier, larger 11 a.m. service.

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Witnesses told reporters that they heard multiple gunshots. Christina Rodriguez, who was inside the church, told Houston television station KTRK that she “started screaming, ‘There’s a shooter, there’s a shooter,’ ”and then she and others ran to the backside of a library inside the building, then stood in a stairway before they were told it was safe to leave.

Longtime church member Alan Guity, whose family is from Honduras, said he was resting inside the church’s sanctuary before the Spanish service as his mother was working as an usher when he heard gunshots.

“Boom, boom, boom, boom and I yelled, ‘Mom,’ ” he told The Associated Press.

The 35-year-old ran to his mother and they both laid flat on the floor and prayed as the gunfire continued. They remained there for about five minutes until someone told them it was safe to evacuate. Outside, Guity said, he and his mother tried to calm people down by worshiping and singing in Spanish, “Move in me, move in me. Touch my mind and my heart. Move within me Holy Spirit.”

Despite the chaos, Finner said the tragedy “could have been a lot worse” if the two officers had not “engaged” the woman when she opened fire. They had been working security at the church on Sunday, and Finner praised them for their quick actions.

The officers work for the Houston Police Department and the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, respectively. Both have been placed on protocol-mandated administrative duty.

After she was shot, the woman told police that she had a bomb, but authorities said no explosives were found when her vehicle and backpack were searched. First responders continued to search the megachurch for hours afterwards.

Osteen said Sunday that his congregation is “devastated.” He added that he would pray for the victims and for the woman who did the shooting and their families. It was not clear where he was at the time of the shooting.

“We’re going to stay strong and we’re going to continue to, to move forward,” he said during the news conference with police. “There are forces of evil, but the forces that are for us — the forces of God — are stronger than that. So we’re going to keep going strong and just, you know, doing what God’s called us to do: lift people up and give hope to the world.”

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued a statement saying “our hearts are with those impacted by today’s tragic shooting and the entire Lakewood Church community in Houston. Places of worship are sacred.”

The church has grown tremendously over the past 25 years since Joel Osteen took over after his father’s death in 1999 and introduced an upbeat style of Christian televangelism that has captured a following of millions. His televised sermons reach about 100 countries. The elder Osteen founded the church in a converted feed store in 1959.

Woman killed after she opened fire in Joel Osteen’s megachurch

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Fayose Petitions IGP, Threatens Lawsuit Over Rape, Torture Allegations

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November 10, 2026

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Fayose Petitions IGP, Threatens Lawsuit Over Rape, Torture Allegations
Isaac Fayose
Fayose Petitions IGP, Threatens Lawsuit Over Rape, Torture Allegations

Businessman and social commentator, Isaac Fayose, has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and threatened legal action against a woman identified as Queen of Abuja over allegations that he raped and tortured her and her three-year-old son.

Fayose, younger brother of former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, is demanding that the woman withdraw the allegations, apologise publicly and remove the contentious publications from social media within three days or face legal consequences.

The development followed a series of posts by the woman, also identified as Alexandria, on the social media platform Threads on Sunday, November 8, 2026, accusing the businessman of sexually assaulting and torturing her and her young son.

In the posts, she alleged that the incidents began in May 2026 and claimed to possess evidence to support her accusations. She also threatened to release further information about the alleged incidents.

In one of the publications, she directly mentioned Fayose, insisting that he would face the consequences of his alleged actions. She further claimed that she had shared evidence with him.

However, Fayose has rejected the accusations through his legal representatives, who described the publications as defamatory and damaging to their client’s reputation.

The legal threat was contained in a pre-action notice dated November 8, 2026, and signed by Nzedebe Chinonso Paul, principal partner of the law firm representing Fayose.

The notice, which Fayose shared on his Instagram account on Monday, November 9, stated that the businessman had received calls and messages from friends and acquaintances informing him that his name was trending on social media over the allegations.

According to the lawyers, the publications had exposed their client to public ridicule and damaged his reputation as a businessman and social commentator.

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They also questioned the woman’s reference to her three-year-old son in the allegations, challenging her to explain the connection she claimed existed between the child and their client.

The legal representatives demanded the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of the allegations, alongside an unreserved public apology.

They further insisted that the retraction should extend beyond the woman’s personal social media accounts to bloggers and other platforms that had republished the accusations.

The lawyers warned that failure to comply within three days would compel them to pursue available legal remedies, including instituting a civil lawsuit and petitioning the appropriate authorities for investigation and possible prosecution.

Fayose Takes Matter to Police

In a separate move, Fayose petitioned the Inspector-General of Police over what he described as cyberbullying, criminal defamation, blackmail and victimisation involving the woman.

The petition, also dated November 8, was submitted through his legal representatives following the social media publications.

In the document, Fayose accused Alexandria of publishing allegations that he raped and tortured her and her three-year-old son.

His lawyers urged the police chief to investigate the matter and take appropriate action against the woman and anyone else allegedly connected with the publications.

Fayose also made his position public on Instagram, warning that the woman had between two and three days to respond to his demands or face court action.

The police petition marks a further escalation of the dispute, which has attracted attention on social media.

However, the allegations against Fayose have not been independently established, and the legal notice and police petition represent the position of his legal team rather than findings by a court or investigative authority.

As of Monday, November 9, 2026, there was no reported court judgment establishing the truth of the allegations or determining liability between the parties.

The matter could now proceed through formal legal channels if the parties fail to resolve their differences.

Fayose Petitions IGP, Threatens Lawsuit Over Rape, Torture Allegations

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‘Miracle’ Turns Sour as Visiting Pastor Vanishes with Congregants’ Phones During Crusade in Edo

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12 hours ago

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November 9, 2026

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‘Miracle’ Turns Sour as Visiting Pastor Vanishes with Congregants’ Phones During Crusade in Edo

By NewsTrends Correspondent

UROMI, EDO STATE – Worshippers in Uromi, Edo State, have reportedly been left devastated after a visiting pastor allegedly disappeared with their mobile phones during a prayer programme.

The incident, which reportedly occurred over the weekend, has sparked outrage and widespread reactions on social media after videos showing some of the affected worshippers crying over their losses emerged online.

According to reports, the visiting cleric instructed participants at the religious gathering to surrender their mobile phones and place them at the altar before the commencement of prayers.

The worshippers reportedly complied with the directive, apparently trusting the pastor’s instructions.

However, the situation allegedly took a dramatic turn when the cleric disappeared with the devices during the programme, leaving the congregation shocked and confused.

Videos circulating online show some of the affected worshippers, particularly women, visibly distressed and lamenting the disappearance of their belongings.

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One of the women was heard expressing her frustration and concern over how she would cope without her mobile phone.

The circumstances surrounding the incident have generated widespread criticism, with many Nigerians questioning why worshippers were persuaded to surrender their personal belongings to a visiting religious leader.

The identity of the pastor, the exact number of phones allegedly taken and his whereabouts had yet to be established as of the time of filing this report.

Meanwhile, The Sun Nigeria reported that the Edo State Police Command had not confirmed the incident as of Monday, November 9.

The development has renewed calls for caution among religious worshippers against surrendering valuable personal belongings to individuals under the guise of spiritual instructions.

Miracle’ Turns Sour as Visiting Pastor Vanishes with Congregants’ Phones During Crusade in Edo

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‘You’re Peter Obi’s Unofficial Spokesman’ – Bwala Accuses Arise TV’s Rufai Oseni

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20 hours ago

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November 9, 2026

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‘You’re Peter Obi’s Unofficial Spokesman’ – Bwala Accuses Arise TV’s Rufai Oseni

 

ABUJA, Nigeria – Presidential spokesperson Daniel Bwala has accused Arise Television presenter Rufai Oseni of acting as an unofficial spokesperson for former Anambra State Governor and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

 

Bwala made the allegation on Monday, November 9, 2026, in a post on X while reacting to Obi’s criticism of President Bola Tinubu over his administration’s handling of public resources and governance.

 

The presidential spokesman alleged that Oseni drafted a recent social media post by Obi to enable the former Anambra governor to amplify his criticism of the Federal Government during the Arise Television morning programme.

 

In the post, Bwala questioned why the broadcaster would not openly acknowledge his alleged political relationship with Obi.

 

“That tweet of @PeterObi was drafted to him by Rufai Oseni so he (Rufai) would amplify on their morning show. Check the pattern and flow as revealed to me by my sources in their camp.

 

“What is wrong with openly acknowledging that he is Obi’s unofficial spokesman? Hypocrites,” Bwala wrote.

 

What Triggered Bwala’s Outburst?

 

Bwala’s accusation followed a post by Obi titled, “Good Day, Mr President: Nigerians Deserve Accountability,” in which the NDC presidential candidate challenged Tinubu to account for funds saved from the removal of petrol subsidy, government borrowings and increased government revenue.

 

Obi also questioned the administration’s achievements in addressing poverty, out-of-school children, inadequate healthcare, poor electricity supply and insecurity.

 

Reacting to the post, Bwala suggested that Oseni was behind its composition and intended to use his television platform to give Obi’s criticism wider publicity.

 

However, the presidential spokesman did not provide evidence to substantiate his allegation that the Arise Television presenter drafted Obi’s post.

 

Political Tensions Ahead of 2027 Elections

 

The latest exchange comes amid growing political disagreements between supporters of the Tinubu administration and opposition figures ahead of the 2027 general elections.

 

Oseni has become a prominent voice in public discussions on governance, frequently interrogating politicians and challenging public officials on issues affecting Nigerians.

 

Bwala, on the other hand, has been actively defending the Tinubu administration against criticism from opposition politicians and other public commentators.

 

The allegation has again brought attention to the relationship between political communication, media independence and the responsibility of journalists to hold public officials accountable.

 

While Bwala has questioned Oseni’s perceived neutrality, his allegation that the broadcaster authored Obi’s post remains unsubstantiated based on the information contained in his public statement.

 

‘You’re Peter Obi’s Unofficial Spokesman’ – Bwala Accuses Arise TV’s Rufai Oseni

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