By Debbie Eremen
A Resident Pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) in Aleto, Eleme, Rivers State, Deacon Steve Eyo, collapsed and died while preaching on “The Certainty of Death and Hope Beyond” at a burial ceremony.
The incident occurred on Thursday, 1 October, 2026, and left residents of Aleto and members of the RCCG community in the area in shock and mourning.
Eyo began his sermon at about 1:10 p.m. He told the congregation that the burial was a reminder that death is not the end, because judgment comes after death.
He said death is certain and cannot be avoided, and that everyone must pass through it.
He likened it to going to the market, where some people leave early while others stay until late.
In the same way, he said, some people die early while others live longer, and death can come when people least expect it.
The pastor also encouraged the congregation to number their days and live wisely. His last words were: “Number your days and prepare, for it can happen anytime.”
About 15 minutes into the sermon, Eyo suddenly fell, and the microphone dropped to the floor with a loud sound. At first, some people thought he was demonstrating how suddenly death can happen, since he had just been speaking on the subject. It soon became clear that the matter was serious.
He was quickly taken to the back of the church, where the choir and ministers gathered around him and prayed. Some people with medical knowledge also gave him first aid.
A medical person later said that his breathing had stopped. He was then rushed to the nearest hospital in the same ambulance that had been hired to carry the remains of the deceased.
At the hospital, Eyo was confirmed dead and taken to the mortuary.
