By Ayomide Otitoju
The Lagos State Police Command has confirmed that Pastor Paul Adefarasin, the Senior Pastor of House on the Rock Church, voluntarily appeared at its headquarters in Ikeja for questioning over a viral video showing him holding what appeared to be a gun-like object.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, the police stated: “No one is above the law. Pastor Paul Adefarasin has turned himself in at the Lagos State Police Command Headquarters, Ikeja, and is currently being interrogated by detectives who have commenced investigation on the case.”
The video, which surfaced online earlier this month, shows the pastor inside a black Range Rover, engaging with a road user while holding a dark-colored object that many online speculated to be a firearm. The footage sparked intense reactions across social media, prompting calls for police intervention.
In response to the controversy, Pastor Adefarasin issued a statement addressing the misunderstanding:
“You might be aware of a video circulating on social media showing me in what some have misunderstood as brandishing a firearm. I want to assure you — that was certainly not a firearm, and at no point did I point such at anyone.”
He further reassured the public during a church service streamed on YouTube, describing the backlash as “hurtful and malicious,” and stating emphatically:
“I do not have a pistol licence. I do not carry a firearm. I pointed no firearm at anybody. The object in question was misrepresented.”
Adefarasin alleged the situation was exploited by online content creators for monetary gain, accusing them of spreading misinformation for “clickbait” purposes.
Reflecting on the incident’s emotional toll, the 62-year-old cleric said he was “shocked” and “hurt” upon seeing the video go viral, but expressed faith in overcoming the ordeal:
“What the enemy means for evil, God turns for good.”
The police say the investigation remains ongoing, and further updates will be provided in due course.
