A Celestial Church of Christ pastor, Bidemi Odukoya, has allegedly killed his wife during a domestic dispute in Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State before reportedly taking his own life hours later.
The incident occurred around 2am on Monday, August 31, 2026, at Ogooluwa community, Akiode Ibogun, where Odukoya served as the Shepherd of Iri Orun Parish of the Celestial Church of Christ, reportedly owned by the couple.
Odukoya, a father of three boys, allegedly attacked his wife with a machete and a wooden stool before fleeing the community.
He was later reportedly killed after jumping in front of a moving truck at Coker Junction, along the Ifo section of the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway.
Both husband and wife were buried beside their home on Monday.
The tragedy shocked residents who said the couple had lived in the community for about nine or 10 years and were generally regarded as friendly and respectful.
The Baale of the community, Chief Taiwo Akiode, said residents were plunged into deep mourning by the incident, describing it as unprecedented in the area.
Akiode said some residents knocked on his door around 3am to inform him that the pastor had allegedly killed his wife.
He said he initially found the report difficult to believe until he visited the couple’s residence and saw the woman lying in a pool of blood.
According to him, the police later arrived, photographed the scene and commenced preliminary investigations, while Odukoya was nowhere to be found.
Akiode said residents received another report around 7am that Odukoya had allegedly jumped in front of a moving truck at Ifo.
He said some residents were sent to confirm the report before the police took over the matter.
According to the community leader, people at the expressway told residents that Odukoya had reportedly been crossing the road repeatedly before sitting on the median.
He allegedly later moved in front of an approaching truck and was killed.
The wife was buried around 5pm, while Odukoya’s remains were returned to the community later in the evening and buried beside his wife after 7pm.
The youth leader of the community, Seun Adelana, alleged that accusations of infidelity contributed to the marital crisis.
He said the husband was reportedly accusing his wife of having an affair with another man, while there were also allegations that the pastor was involved with another woman.
Adelana said the allegations were believed to have triggered the altercation that ended in the woman’s death.
The Asiwaju of Ibogun Akiode, Chief Oluwasegun Adeboye, said residents only began hearing more about the couple’s alleged marital problems after the tragedy.
He said residents were told that the couple had previously taken their dispute to court and were reportedly advised to return home and resolve their differences.
The community leader said the couple were allegedly expected to return to court on Wednesday, but the tragedy occurred two days earlier.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Police Public Relations Officer of the Ogun State Command, ASP Opeyemi Oluborode, confirmed that the police were investigating the incident.
He said the case file was being transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for diligent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
