A burial ceremony at Aleto in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State turned tragic after the Resident Pastor of the Redeemed Church, Aleto, Deacon Steve Eyo, suddenly collapsed and died while preaching at the event.
An eyewitness account said Eyo was delivering a sermon titled “The Certainty of Death and Hope Beyond” before more than 300 mourners when he suddenly collapsed while concluding his message.
According to the eyewitness, the pastor began preaching at about 1:10 p.m., speaking extensively about the certainty of death and the need for people to live wisely because death could come at any time.
The pastor reportedly illustrated his message with an analogy of going to the market, saying, “Some people leave the market early, while others stay until late. In the same way, some people die early, while others live longer.”
The eyewitness said Eyo was still preaching at about 1:25 p.m. when he suddenly collapsed in front of the mourners as he approached the end of his sermon.
“At first, some people thought he was demonstrating how suddenly death can happen, because he had just been talking about death,” the eyewitness recounted.
The witness said it quickly became clear that the pastor was in distress as church ministers and choir members rushed to his aid, took him to the back of the venue and began praying for him, while some people with medical knowledge reportedly administered first aid.
The eyewitness said Eyo’s condition subsequently worsened, with a medical person reportedly observing that his breathing had stopped.
He was then rushed to the nearest hospital in the same ambulance that had earlier been hired to convey the remains of the deceased.
According to the eyewitness, the pastor was confirmed dead at the hospital and his body was subsequently taken to the mortuary.
The witness said the pastor’s final words before his collapse were, “Number your days and prepare, for it can happen anytime.”
The eyewitness also recalled that before the preaching began, the church choir had ministered with the song “It Is Finished,” with the female lead singer performing passionately as mourners listened solemnly.
The pastor’s sermon had focused on death, the uncertainty of life and the belief that death is not the end, with Eyo reportedly reminding those present that judgment comes after death and urging them to “number their days and live wisely.”
The eyewitness described the pastor’s sudden death while delivering a sermon on mortality as a deeply shocking experience for those present, saying the incident still felt “like a drama” to everyone who witnessed it.
