RCCG explains how Uwaila Omozuwa got into church building where she was raped

The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) has finally explained the circumstances leading to the killing of a 100-level student of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), Uwaila Omozuwa, who raped and brutally attacked inside one of its branches in Edo State.

The church’s reaction came several hours after it was widely criticised on the internet for its silence on the incident that occured in its domain while other Nigerians have spoken against the killing.

The statement signed by the Church’s Head of Media and Public Relations, Pastor Olaitan Olubiyi, said the church has lost a great member and a young promising lady and prayed God grants the family fortitude to bear the loss.

RCCG said though its parishes had been closed down in compliance with the COVID-19 lockdown order, Uwaila has been going there for her private studies before the unfortunate incident on Wednesday May 27, 2020.

“The lady was a member of the choir in one of our parishes and from the report we have, she had been going to collect the key to the church, where she had been having her private study,” the statement read.

“On May 27, Miss Uwa Omozuwa, collected the key to the Church Hall of her parish as she had been doing since the lockdown began, for use for her private educational studies. On the said date, when the night guard at the Church resumed duties a little after 7 pm, he found the lady on the floor in the Church half-naked and in a pool of her blood.

It further read: “the parents and other people were alerted and she was taken to a nearby hospital from where she was transferred to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital. Unfortunately she gave up the ghost on Saturday night.”

In the statement aimed to help fend off further criticism against the church and its General Overseer, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, who was a subject of internet trolling on Sunday, the church said Uwaila was a ‘committed chorister’

“It is really sad for us because we have lost a great member and we pray the Lord will help the family at this time.”