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

Published

1 year ago

February 12, 2024

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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Akpabio to represent Tinubu at Pope Francis funeral

Published

11 minutes ago

April 25, 2025

Trends Admin

Senate President, Godswill Akpabio

Akpabio to represent Tinubu at Pope Francis funeral

President Bola Tinubu has sent a five-member delegation to the funeral of Pope Francis, the head of the Roman Catholic Church, scheduled for Saturday in Vatican City.

The special adviser to the president on information and strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said in a statement on Friday that Senate President Godswill Akpabio would head the high-level delegation.

The delegation also includes the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Ojukwu; the president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, Archbishop Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji; the Archbishop of Sokoto Diocese, Archbishop Matthew Kukah; and the Archbishop of Abuja Diocese, Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama.

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Mr Onanuga said, “The delegation will formally deliver a letter conveying President Tinubu’s sympathy and condolences on Pope Francis’ passing to the acting head of the Vatican.

“On Monday, President Tinubu joined the Catholic faithful and Christians worldwide to mourn the death of Pope Francis, whom he described as a humble servant of God, a tireless champion of the poor, and a guiding light for millions.”

He quoted Mr Tinubu as saying that the 88-year-old pontiff’s death last Monday, which came after the celebration of Jesus Christ’s resurrection, represents his sacred return to his Maker.

Akpabio to represent Tinubu at Pope Francis funeral

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Rivers Sole administrator finally appears before Reps, seeks more time

Published

55 minutes ago

April 25, 2025

Trends Admin

Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral (Rtd) Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas

Rivers Sole administrator finally appears before Reps, seeks more time

The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd.), has finally met with the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee investigating the declaration of a state of emergency in the state.

Ibas, who had missed two earlier invitations, appeared before the lawmakers at the National Assembly on Friday and requested a fresh date for a more detailed briefing.

Before the session moved behind closed doors, Ibas addressed the committee led by House Leader, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere. He began by expressing appreciation for the panel’s efforts in upholding democratic principles and offered an explanation for his previous absences.

He said the earlier non-appearances were not intentional but resulted from the challenges of administering a state under emergency, compounded by the timing of public holidays and weekends.

“The absence, of course, was not out of disregard, but rather due to the weighty and urgent demands of stabilising governance in a state under a declared emergency,” Ibas stated.

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He noted that while the security and political atmosphere in Rivers had improved, it remained fragile, necessitating a well-prepared and comprehensive engagement with the committee.

“The situation in Rivers State was relatively calm, but still fragile,” he said, while requesting more time to properly brief the panel.

Following the meeting, the committee issued a statement acknowledging Ibas’s apology and confirming that a new date would be set for the postponed engagement.

“The Committee has magnanimously accepted his apology,” the statement read, adding that Ibas had earlier sent a formal letter of regret and had shown “respect and responsibility” by attending the session in person.

The committee also reiterated its resolve to carry out its assignment objectively and within the bounds of its constitutional duties, citing Sections 11(4) and 88 of the 1999 Constitution. It called on all stakeholders to remain cooperative and supportive of the inquiry, stressing the importance of democratic governance and national stability.

Rivers Sole administrator finally appears before Reps, seeks more time

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Omokri : How Tinubu’s political mastery started with Abiola, says El-Rufai, Obi’s forces can’t stop him

Published

8 hours ago

April 25, 2025

Trends Admin

Abacha, Tinubu and Abiola

Omokri : How Tinubu’s political mastery started with Abiola, says El-Rufai, Obi’s forces can’t stop him

Reno Omokri, a former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, has credited President Bola Tinubu with playing a key role in the victory of the late Chief MKO Abiola during the annulled 1993 presidential election.

In a Facebook post on Thursday, Omokri argued that Tinubu’s influence and political acumen stretch far beyond recent elections, noting that opposition figures such as former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai and 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi lack the momentum to challenge Tinubu’s reelection in 2027.

“The recent seismic political realignments in Nigeria in favour of President Bola Tinubu should not surprise students of history,” Omokri wrote.

“Historical context is required to understand President Bola Tinubu. He did not start winning almost impossible-to-win elections in 2023. He is a veteran of such odds stacked against you elections.”

Omokri emphasized Tinubu’s pivotal role in Abiola’s 1993 campaign:”Many people forget or do not even know that then-Senator Bola Tinubu was Chief MKO Abiola’s right-hand man, helping him strategise and win the famed June 12, 1993 election upset.”

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He continued, “For roles requiring trust, with perhaps the exception of his son, Kola, and his late wife, Kudirat, there was nobody Chief Abiola looked to politically above then-Senator Tinubu. Even his political foe, Alhaji Sule Lamido, recently and grudgingly admitted it during an interview.”

Omokri described Tinubu as a uniquely skilled politician:”Hate him or love him, President Bola Tinubu is the best politician in Nigeria. He understands human nature, anticipates betrayal before it happens, and plans ahead for it.

“He also forgives easily, where there is repentance, and is able to work on the basis of no permanent enemy or friend but permanent interests.”

According to Omokri, Tinubu’s strength lies in his personal approach to politics:”But perhaps his biggest selling point is his relationship building abilities. The man knows how to reach out and touch people at the point of their need instead of waiting to get them by appealing to their greed, like his opponents.”

Looking ahead to the next general election, Omokri expressed confidence in Tinubu’s political future:”As long as God spares his life, I do not see anyone who can stop his reelection in 2027. Certainly not Nasir el-Rufai, who could not deliver his state to the APC when he was in office, how much more now that he is an out of office has been.”

He concluded with sharp criticism of Obi’s political approach:”And neither can Peter Obi, who has been exposed as an Islam-hating ‘Yes Daddy’ opportunistic politician.”