Killing of Eunice Olawale

Eunice Olawale (born July 23, 1974) was a deaconess of the Divine Touch Parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God and a mother of seven. An indigene of Ekiti State, she had been married to her husband, Elisha Olawale, from Ondo State, since 2000. The family lived in the Kubwa area of Abuja, Nigeria's federal capital, where she had preached for many years. She was described by her husband and others as hardworking, God-fearing, humble, and a passionate preacher.

Eunice routinely left home at around 5 a.m. to evangelize on the streets, a practice often referred to as "morning cry." In the days before her death, she reportedly overheard nearby Muslims suggesting she should be chased away, and heard a separate conversation from a nearby mosque disputing the truth of her preaching. After telling her husband, he cautioned her to be careful, and she paused her morning evangelism for about a week before resuming. A Muslim cleric had also visited the family home asking for food for his Islamic school and left after being told none was available at the time.

On July 9, 2016, Eunice left home at her usual time to preach and was killed between approximately 5 a.m. and 5:30 a.m. Accounts of the exact manner of her death differ: some reports state she was beheaded and stabbed, while others state she was stabbed multiple times in the stomach and leg before bleeding to death. Witnesses reported hearing her screaming "Blood of Jesus!" around the time of the attack.

Her husband, Olawale, woke between 6:30 and 7:30 a.m. and learned of the killing from his children, who had heard nearby football players discussing a woman killed while preaching, her body left on the ground. He tried calling his wife's phone, which was switched off, and was later directed to the police station, where he confirmed her death. Her megaphone, Bible, and mobile phone were found near her body.

The killing drew significant outrage on social media in Nigeria, intensifying tensions and debate along religious lines and raising concerns about religious tolerance in the country. Six suspects were arrested in connection with the case, and some nearby residents reportedly moved away out of fear of being implicated. Christians were urged to take precautions while evangelizing. The wife of Nigeria's Vice President, Oludolapo Osinbajo, and pastor E. A. Adeboye made condolence visits to the family. Eunice's burial was delayed pending investigation. Despite the killing, other preachers reportedly continued evangelizing at the same location where she died. The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) issued police a 14-day ultimatum to advance the investigation and identify those responsible. As of the available reporting, the case remains unresolved.