The Lagos State Police Command has confirmed that Pastor Paul Adefarasin, the Senior Pastor of House on the Rock Church, voluntarily appeared at the police headquarters in Ikeja for questioning over a viral video in which he was seen holding an object believed by many to be a firearm.
In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, the police emphasized that no one is above the law, noting that detectives have launched an investigation into the matter. “Pastor Paul Adefarasin has turned himself in at the Lagos State Police Command Headquarters, Ikeja, and is currently being interrogated. The outcome of the investigation will be made public,” the statement read.
The controversy began after a video surfaced earlier in the month showing the pastor behind the wheel of a black Range Rover. In the clip, he winds down his window and appears to engage with a passer-by while holding a black object, sparking a social media storm. Many online commentators alleged the object resembled a firearm.
Reacting swiftly to the backlash, Pastor Adefarasin took to his official X handle to refute the allegations. “That was certainly not a firearm, and at no point did I point such at anyone,” he clarified in a written post, appealing for calm amid the growing speculation.
He addressed the matter further during a Sunday church service, streamed live on YouTube, where he described the situation as “hurtful” and accused content creators of spreading false narratives for profit. “I was falsely accused of bearing a firearm and pointing it at an aggressive content creator. The only thing separating him and me was maybe three-quarters of a metre and a glass,” he explained.
Adefarasin firmly denied owning or carrying a weapon. “I do not have a pistol licence. I do not carry a firearm, and I pointed no firearm at anybody,” he stressed to his congregation.
He went on to suggest that the motives behind the video’s circulation were not rooted in concern, but in the quest for internet traffic and monetization. “We have witnessed clickbaiters just looking for more money. I probably wasn’t even their target; their target was to make more money,” he said.
The 62-year-old cleric shared how the saga personally affected him, describing his initial reaction as one of “shock” and “hurt.” However, he expressed faith in divine justice and resilience. “I am human. But God is touched by our infirmities and can first give us succour. And what the enemy means for evil, He works for good,” he concluded.
As the investigation continues, the public awaits clarity on the nature of the object in question and the eventual outcome of the police inquiry.
What you should know
Pastor Paul Adefarasin has denied claims that he brandished a firearm in a viral video, insisting the object in question was misinterpreted.
He voluntarily appeared before the Lagos State Police Command and is currently under investigation. Adefarasin attributes the controversy to misinformation and monetization motives by online content creators.
