"Men of the Lagos State Police Command have commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of one Kayode Adebayo inside a church in Lagos.

The corpse of Adebayo, said to be in his mid-30s, was found dangling from a rope inside the auditorium of The Light Gospel Liberty Ministry, Oguntade Street, Abeokuta Expressway, Oko Oba, a suburb of Lagos on Monday.

Eyewitnesses said that residents of the area were attracted to the scene in the early hours of the day by the loud barking of dogs.

A source close to the church told our correspondent that the deceased, who had been a member of the church for about five months, was recently arrested by policemen for allegedly knocking down a pedestrian.

He was said to have been detained at the Yaba Police Station and later released on bail and was expected to appear in court on the day his corpse was discovered.

The source quoted the deceased's widow as saying that she had on Saturday foiled his attempt to swallow some pills with petrol.

The last time Adebayo was seen alive was on Sunday evening when he reportedly escorted a friend who came to visit him.

It was on his way back home after bidding the friend farewell that he allegedly went into the church hall.

His mission in the church did not attract any suspicion apparently because he was a member.

He reportedly used an electric cable to hang himself.

Residents of the area who converged on the church to catch a glimpse of his remains wondered why the deceased decided to kill himself inside a church.

One of them said, "No matter what the problem one may be passing through, the belief is that the church should be a place of hope.

"I wonder why he could not pray since he has chosen to come to the church. Why did he decide to desecrate this hallowed ground?"

His corpse has since been deposited at a mortuary for autopsy.

The command's Public Relations Officer, Mr. Frank Mba, was not available for comment when our correspondent visited his office."