Following the incident, wherein Pastor Paul Adefarasin turned himself in at the Lagos State Police Command Headquarters, Ikeja, in connection with a viral video showing him holding a gun-like object, the Lagos State Police Command wishes to provide a further update on the matter.
After a thorough investigation, including interrogation and a cautionary statement from Pastor Adefarasin, it was established that the object in question was a stun gun and not a lethal weapon or firearm.
Consequent on our findings, the Lagos State Police Command has determined that there are no sufficient grounds to proceed with the matter. The case is hereby discontinued.
The Lagos State Police Command remains committed to upholding the rule of law and ensuring public safety while maintaining transparency in all investigations.
SP ABIMBOLA ADEBISI, anipr, mipra
POLICE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER
FOR: COMMISSIONER OF POLICE
LAGOS STATE COMMAND
IKEJA
September 17, 2025
Here is the background story:
Police Probe Pastor Paul Adefarasin Over Viral Stun Gun Incident
Lagos, Nigeria — The Lagos State Police Command has questioned popular televangelist and founder of House on the Rock Church, Pastor Paul Adefarasin, after a viral video showed him brandishing what appeared to be a firearm from his luxury SUV.
The footage, widely circulated online, captured the cleric rolling down his car window and pointing an object resembling a gun at a passer-by identified as a car spotter. The incident sparked outrage, with many Nigerians calling for an investigation.
Responding to the controversy, Pastor Adefarasin denied carrying any firearm, insisting the object was harmless. His church later clarified that it was a strobe-light device, not a weapon.
However, police investigators who retrieved the item identified it as a stun gun — a device classified under Nigerian law as a prohibited anti-riot weapon.
Lagos Commissioner of Police, Adegoke Fayoade, confirmed that Adefarasin voluntarily appeared before detectives and was granted bail while investigations continue. He warned that “pointing a stun gun, or any object resembling a firearm, in a manner that instills fear constitutes an offence.”
Legal experts have since weighed in, noting that while stun guns are non-lethal, their possession and use are tightly regulated. “Under the Firearms Act and related laws, any anti-riot weapon without clearance is considered illegal,” one lawyer explained.
The incident has sparked debates on accountability among public figures and the legality of self-defense gadgets in Nigeria. Many Nigerians on social media expressed concern over the potential misuse of such devices, while others defended the cleric, arguing that the content creator’s actions may have provoked the response.
For now, the police have pledged a thorough probe to determine whether Pastor Adefarasin’s actions amount to a criminal offence.
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