The convoy of popular Nigerian cleric, Apostle Johnson Suleman, senior pastor of Omega Fire Ministries International was attacked by gunmen on Friday.
The attack happened along the Benin Auchi Road, Edo State, as seven persons including three policemen were killed.
During the attack, the gunmen reportedly opened fire on his convoy, allegedly killing three of his police orderlies and four other yet-to-be-identified persons.
Suleman’s lawyer, Samuel Amune, who confirmed the attack to this newspaper, said the cleric just returned from a programme in Tanzania, adding that he escaped death by a whisker.
He said, “He was returning from a journey and he had almost gotten on the shores of Auchi when some assassins attacked him. Three of his police orderlies, among others died. He travelled before and just finished a programme in Tanzania day before yesterday.
“He was returning to Auchi when the gunmen attacked him along Sabingida down to Warake area, and Auchi shares direct boundary with Warake. So, he had passed Warake and was entering the boundaries of Auchi when the attack happened.”
A close aide to the cleric who also confirmed the attack said: “It’s true. They attacked him (Suleman); seven people including policemen were killed. The country is not safe; our can people move around with guns at the express and they are not detected. It is a disturbing situation.”
