The Lagos State Police Command has granted bail to Pastor Paul Adefarasin of House on the Rock Church. This followed a police invitation and questioning over a viral video that showed him holding an object many thought was a gun.
The cleric voluntarily visited the police station on Tuesday and answered questions during an interview with investigators.
Police confirmed in a statement that the object seen in the video was not a firearm. Instead, it was identified as a stun gun, a non-lethal anti-riot device that is, however, listed as prohibited equipment.
They stated, “What was recovered from him, the gun-like object seen in the viral video, is not a lethal weapon or firearm but a stun gun which is a prohibited anti-riot equipment.” The police also noted that investigations into the matter are still ongoing.
Public Outrage and Online Reactions
The video, recorded earlier this month, shows Pastor Adefarasin inside a Range Rover. He winds down the window to speak with a road user while holding a black object in his hand.
That moment, captured and shared widely on social media, quickly drew criticism and confusion. Many viewers believed the object was a pistol.
Responding to the viral reactions, the pastor used his official X account to clarify the situation. He posted, “You might be aware of a video which has been circulating on social media showing me in what some have misunderstood as brandishing a firearm. I want to assure you of this — that was certainly not a firearm, and at no point did I point such at anyone.”
Pastor Addresses Church and Speaks on Misinformation
During last Sunday’s live-streamed church service, Pastor Adefarasin addressed the issue in more detail. He called the accusations “hurtful” and “malicious.” The 62-year-old said the person filming him had approached too closely and aggressively.
“I was falsely accused of bearing a firearm, pointing a firearm at an aggressive content creator who came within personal distance,” he said. “The only thing separating him and me was maybe three-quarters of a metre and a glass.”
He stressed that he does not own a gun licence, does not carry a weapon, and did not aim anything at anyone. “I do not have a pistol licence. I do not carry a firearm, and I pointed no firearm at anybody.”
He also blamed online influencers and content creators for spreading false information to gain attention and earn money. “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.
Adefarasin also spoke about the emotional impact the situation had on him. He said he was shocked and deeply affected when he found out the video had gone viral. “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 told his church members.
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