Worshippers go spiritual over stolen harvest cows

Celestial Church of Christ worshippers have turned to prayer and fasting to recover their stolen cows from thieves who invaded Testimony Parish, Elerumoke, Egbeda, Iyana Ajia in Egbeda Local Government Area of Oyo State, ahead of the “Adult Harvest Thanksgiving Service” of the church.

The sanctuary was invaded last Saturday after the shepherd-in-charge of the parish and other notable leaders of the church had gone to bed, according to the church authorities.

A leader of the church identified as Oluso Ayo confirmed the incident to Saturday Tribune on Thursday after surprised
leaders of the Organizing Committee members for the harvest learnt of the theft of the cows worth N3.8m.

Ayo said, “The incident really happened. Suspected thieves invaded our church premises and made away with two cows meant for the harvest celebration. The cows, which were tethered, were untied by the suspected thieves.

“We saw the footprints of the thieves and the cows but we cannot say the exact place the animals were taken to.

“We learnt that such an incident had happened in the neighbourhood before, but not in our church”.

“We saw the footprints of the thieves and the cows but we cannot say the exact place the animals were taken to.

“We learnt that such an incident had happened in the neighbourhood before, but not in our church”, he said.

The church had earlier posted on its X account: “Hallelujah. Two missing Cows: Dear Celestials and the general public, these two huge cows were stolen where they were tied in the church premises at CCC, Testimony Parish, Elerumoke area, Egbeda, Iyana Ajia, Ibadan, Oyo State.

“They were meant to be slaughtered for the ninth Adult Harvest Thanksgiving of the church coming up this Sunday, 17th November, 2024.

“We hereby solicit your prayer for the quick recovery of these harvest thanksgiving cows. Anybody with useful information should contact the Parish Shepherd, Prophet Rotimi Agunbiade Temitope.”