A few days after Apostle Johnson Suleman ordered his members to kill Fulani herdsmen in self defense, Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose early on Wednesday morning foiled an attempt by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) to arrest the preacher, who is in Ado Ekiti for a crusade.
The DSS operatives were said to have laid siege on the preacher’s hotel, waiting for him to arrive there from the day’s program, which was attended by Fayose.
This came after Mr. Suleman, the founder of Omega Fire Ministry, told his church members to kill Fulani herdsmen in retaliation should they be attacked by the herdsmen.
In a video which went viral on social media over the weekend, Suleman preached against Southern Kaduna killings during a Sunday service in his church in Auchi, Edo State.
The Pastor had been in Ado Ekiti for a two-day crusade.
According to Fayose's aide, Lere Olayinka, DSS agents had attempted to forcefully take Mr, Suleman from Midas Hotel in the Adebayo area of the State capital, but were resisted by the security at the hotel, who had insisted on knowing their mission.
The Pastor was alerted and he called on Governor Fayose who personally stormed the place to prevent the DSS operatives from taking the preacher away.
According to Olayinka: "Armed men of the DSS came in three Hilux Vans and were laying siege on the hotel before the Governor stormed the hotel."
"Governor Fayose drove himself to the hotel and moved the Man of God to the Government House."
Narrating his ordeal after being rescued at 2 am on Wednesday, Apostle Sulaiman said: “I came to Ado Ekiti for a crusade. But I had a premonition that I was being trailed after I preached that Christians should retaliate any attack or killings by the Fulani herdsmen. These Fulani headmen had turned many Christians to orphans and widowers but the time has come to protect ourselves.
“I received several calls from hidden numbers trying to locate where I am and I had warned my security not to allow any Fulani man to come near me. So when the men of DSS came in the middle of the night, I knew their mission and I had to call the Governor because if they arrest me, they will set this country on fire.”
Reacting to the development, Governor Fayose said: “I personally attended his crusade and I think it is wrong for a man of God who is armless that could be invited if they have any issue against him. Are Christians and Muslims under different dispensation of the rule of law? That’s why I went there to rescue him. Let them kill two of us together. But when they saw my vehicles and the crowd, they fled.
“But we have information that instructions came from DSS in Abuja that the Pastor should be arrested. We are not in a fascist state, Federal Government must learn to respect the rights of Nigerians and freedom of expression.”
“This is unacceptable, We are in a democracy and Nigerians should warn the Presidency against putting this country on fire because religion is an emotional thing.”
"The governor also warned security operatives against intimidation and arrest of men of God in the interest of peace and religious harmony in the country. The constitution guarantees freedom of worship.”
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