The Lagos State Police Command has cleared Senior Pastor Paul Adefarasin of House on the Rock Church of any wrongdoing after a viral video showed him holding what appeared to be a firearm.

In a statement on Wednesday, police spokesperson Abimbola Adebisi confirmed that Adefarasin voluntarily reported to the Ikeja headquarters for questioning. Investigations revealed that the object in the video was a stun gun—not a lethal weapon.

“After thorough investigation, including interrogation and a cautionary statement from Pastor Adefarasin, it was established that the object was a stun gun and not a firearm. There are no sufficient grounds to proceed, and the case is discontinued,” the statement said.

The police emphasized their commitment to transparency, rule of law, and public safety.

This development contrasts with an earlier statement in June by the Lagos Commissioner of Police, Olohundare Jimoh, who noted that stun guns fall under prohibited riot control equipment and that pointing one at someone could be a criminal offense. At that time, both Adefarasin and the person allegedly threatened were set to be questioned.

The video showed the pastor in a Range Rover holding the device during an exchange. Adefarasin has maintained that he never brandished a firearm and that the object was non-lethal.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has cautioned that increasing cases of internet fraud are leading to stricter visa restrictions for innocent Nigerians abroad.

EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede, represented by Chief Superintendent Coker Oyegunle, spoke on Monday at a Port Harcourt event organised by the Coalition of Nigerian Youth on Security and Safety Affairs. He stressed that fraudulent activities damage Nigeria’s reputation, causing harsher travel conditions for law-abiding citizens.

Olukoyede urged youths to focus on productive sectors like digital innovation, agriculture, and entrepreneurship, warning that “fraud is not success; it is a trap” with lasting consequences.

The EFCC recently intensified efforts against cybercrime, arresting 38 suspected fraudsters in Lagos and securing convictions in Edo State for fraud-related offences.

In July, the US reduced the validity of Nigerian visas, including business, tourism, and student visas, a move linked to the rise in fraud cases.

The commission reaffirmed its commitment to combating fraud through enforcement and community collaboration.

About 40 worshippers were abducted by suspected terrorists at a mosque in Gidan Turbe village, Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State, during early morning prayers.

The attack reportedly occurred around 5:30 a.m. when gunmen stormed the mosque, surrounded it, and took the worshippers hostage. The captors are said to have taken the victims into nearby forests around the Gohori axis in Tsafe LGA.

This incident has plunged the rural community into fear and despair, especially as local leaders and some armed groups had recently engaged in peace talks aimed at reducing violence during the farming season.

Efforts to obtain confirmation or comment from Zamfara Police authorities were unsuccessful.

The Command’s Public Relations Officer, Deputy Superintendent Yazid Abubakar, did not respond to calls or messages seeking information on the abduction.