Nigerian pastor killed during load shedding

KZN community safety MEC Willies Mchunu confirmed Fabamifobbe was killed last Tuesday, Zululand Observer reported.

“I’m deeply shocked by the murder of the pastor. It is totally abhorrent, senseless and inhumane. We condemn it, and we will follow up until there is an arrest and conviction. I would like to call on the community to give the police an opportunity to work on this matter so that those responsible for this abhorrent act should be brought to justice,” said Mchunu.

According to police, Fabamifobbe was approached by two gunmen who pretended to be customers during the loadshedding period. He was shot three times and died on the scene.

Family friend, Pastor John Alimi, said the incident shocked the family and they were still grappling to come to terms with the killing. “We don’t know who would have wanted to harm him because he was a loving, humble and gentle person. He loved God, his community and family. We are all shocked and cannot get over the trauma,” said Alimi.

“His family stays with me at the moment because they fear what might happen to them. We hope police will get to the bottom of all this,” he said.

Fabamifobee was the leader of God’s Love International Ministries and has lived in eSikhaleni since 2004.

The recent attack has raised the fear of xenophobic attacks among the foreign nationals. Some speculated the incident was related to his Facebook letter about the ongoing xenophobic attacks. Three weeks ago, an Ethopian shop owner was gunned down in his car in the J1 section of eSikhaleni.

Esikhawini police spokesperson Lieutenant Thembinkosi Mkhumane said no arrests have been made. Fabamifobbe’s funeral will be held in eSikhaleni on Saturday.

This after five suspects were arrested in connection with the murder of 39-year-old Pastor Hamilton Bafana Zulu was found in the Glencoe area of KwaZulu-Natal in March.

KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lieutenant-General Mmamonnye Ngobeni said: “Our members are committed and dedicated in making sure that criminals do not get away with their criminal activities. I would also like to thank members of the community for working together with the police to make sure criminals face the law for their wrongdoings.”

– Caxton News Service