In the early hours of Thursday, a clergy with Rapture Empowerment International in Osogbo, Osun State, Bishop Shina Olaribigbe, was stabbed to death while trying to mediate a conflict between a couple.
Details surrounding the couple remain sparse, but security sources disclosed that the woman involved, a member of Olaribigbe’s congregation and an interpreter in his church near the BCGA area, had a history of frequent disputes with her estranged husband.
Though separated in practice, the couple had not formalized their divorce.
According to sources, the pastor often stepped in to settle their disputes. On this fateful day, Olaribigbe had visited the woman, reportedly to check on her as she was unwell.
The estranged husband arrived unexpectedly, found the clergy in her room, and became enraged.
A church member, who spoke on condition of anonymity, recounted, “It was in that anger that the man took a knife and stabbed the clergy in the chest. He died immediately. Olaribigbe had gone to the house to see the woman, who had been sick for some time.”
Both the husband and wife were apprehended and are now in custody at the Dugbe Police Division in Osogbo.
Meanwhile, the late bishop’s body has been deposited at the UNIOSUN Teaching Hospital morgue.
Confirming the incident, Spokesperson for the Osun State Police Command, Yemisi Opalola, stated, “They are a couple but not living together. They are not separated by law yet. The Pastor (Shina Olaribigbe) used to settle the fight between the couple.
“We were told the pastor was at the wife’s place today when the estranged husband got there. We were also told the husband stabbed the pastor. We were also told the deceased was on the wife’s bed when the incident happened. The husband stabbed him several times and he died. It was learnt the husband acted on the suspicion that the pastor was sleeping with the woman.”
Meanwhile, heartbroken friends and acquaintances of the late clergy took to his Facebook page to express their sorrow and pay their tributes.
Among the mourners, Oyeleye Isaac posted on the deceased’s Facebook page, “BREAKING AND VERY SAD NEWS, WE LOST ONE OF OUR HEROES, Bishop Dr Olaribigbe Greatness. Why! Why! Why?”
In a tribute, another Facebook user, Mr. Bimbo, shared, “You called to wish me Happy Birthday yesterday.”
