Senior Pastor of House on the Rock Church, Paul Adefarasin, has clarified that the object seen in his hand during a recent roadside encounter was a non-lethal stun gun, not a firearm as widely speculated.
The clarification follows public outrage sparked by a viral video showing the pastor holding what appeared to be a gun while seated in an unregistered black Range Rover. The footage generated widespread criticism and prompted the Lagos State Police Command to invite him for questioning.
Pastor Adefarasin voluntarily honoured the police invitation and appeared at the Command Headquarters in Ikeja on Tuesday. He was granted administrative bail after providing a cautionary statement.
In a statement shared on social media and reiterated during a sermon, Adefarasin expressed dismay over the controversy, describing the public reaction as “hurtful” and the narrative as misleading.
“That was certainly not a firearm, and at no point did I point such at anyone,” he said. “The object was a stun gun, which I carry for personal protection, given the security realities of our time.”
He also criticised the online discourse surrounding the incident, accusing content creators of deliberately misrepresenting facts to attract attention and generate revenue.
“This is clickbait—chasing money, not truth,” Adefarasin said.
Supporting his claim, the Lagos State Police Command confirmed that the item recovered from him was a stun gun—a prohibited anti-riot device under Nigerian law, but not classified as a lethal weapon.
Police spokesperson CSP Benjamin Hundeyin noted that investigations are ongoing and that findings will be made public upon conclusion.
House on the Rock Church also issued a statement backing the pastor’s account. The church thanked members of the public for their concern and prayers, while clarifying that the police had initially mischaracterised the device.
“We wish to assure the public that at no time was a firearm involved, and Pastor Paul did not threaten anyone,” the statement read. “We stand by his integrity and continue to cooperate with the authorities.”