The Osun State Police Command has confirmed the tragic death of Bishop Shina Olaribigbe, the founder of Rapture Empowerment International Church in Osogbo, Osun State.
Gists9ja According to the Police Public Relations Officer, Yemisi Opalola, the bishop was fatally stabbed while attempting to mediate in a domestic dispute between a couple.
Opalola explained that the incident occurred after the estranged husband, who had suspicions of an affair between his wife and the pastor, confronted Olaribigbe during one of his mediation efforts. The couple had been living apart, although they were not legally separated, and the pastor had been frequently intervening in their ongoing conflicts.
Details of the Incident
On the morning of Thursday, January 2, 2025, Bishop Olaribigbe had visited the wife, who had been unwell, when the husband arrived at the residence. After a heated argument, the husband allegedly attacked the pastor with a knife, stabbing him multiple times in the chest. Olaribigbe died on the spot.
Sources close to the church revealed that the wife, who worked as an interpreter at Olaribigbe’s church, was involved in the altercations between the couple, which had led to them living separately. The pastor’s intervention was a regular attempt to mediate their disputes, but on this occasion, it ended in tragedy.
Arrests and Investigation
Both the husband and wife were arrested by the police following the stabbing incident. They have been taken into custody at the Dugbe Division of the Osogbo Police, where investigations are underway.
The remains of Bishop Olaribigbe have been deposited at the morgue of the University of Osun Teaching Hospital (UNIOSUNTH) in Osogbo for autopsy. His untimely death has left his church community in shock as they mourn the loss of a leader dedicated to resolving conflicts.
