IPOB fighters attack Imo church, kill pastor’s aide, rob congregation
Pandemonium broke out in Orodo community, Mbaitoli Local Council, Imo State, as gunmen invaded a local church, God’s Doing and Deliverance Ministry, killing one of the church elders, Mr. Samuel Ogbonna.
The victim, owner of the popular restaurant and bar called Feel at Home, was a youth leader in the community and a close associate of the church’s General Overseer, Evangelist Maduabuchi Ernest, popularly known as “Dibia Ekpere” or “Father MEMC.”
An eyewitness in Owerri reported that around 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, eight gunmen arrived at the church in a red Highlander and a black Lexus saloon car and attacked during an ongoing service.
The eyewitness revealed that, upon seeing the gunmen, Ogbonna fled but was shot several times in the back after being chased into a nearby bush.
According to the witness, the attackers ordered the congregation to lie down and proceeded to steal their mobile phones, bags, and cash.
The attackers also abducted two church members, a man and a nursing mother, but later released them along the Owerri-Orlu road. They also stole the church owner’s car.
The eyewitness said: “We were in the middle of our church prayer session when armed men rushed in and ordered everyone to lie down while pointing their guns at us.
“They started asking for Father MEMC. We told them he wasn’t around, but they insisted he was. They searched everywhere for him but couldn’t find him. I guess they were angry that Father MEMC wasn’t there. They took two of our members and forced them into one of the cars parked on the church premises, which belongs to Father MEMC.
“While driving out of the church compound, we heard several gunshots followed by a loud shout, which we later learned was the attack on Elder Ogbonna. The Elder was coming back to the church to rejoin the service after running an errand, but upon seeing the gunmen, he fled into a nearby bush. They chased him and shot him several times.
“After driving a few kilometers, they released the two members they had kidnapped earlier. We are all living in fear. Many of us, including Orodo natives, have left the church and the community. Even those who came with their sick relatives for prayers at the church have taken them home.
“In fact, the church has been closed, and the whereabouts of some of us are still unknown because many ran into the bush. This is really unfortunate.”
Efforts to get a reaction from the General Overseer regarding the incident were unsuccessful, as several calls to his telephone line went unanswered up until press time.
When contacted, the spokesperson for the Imo State Police Command, ASP Henry Okoye, confirmed the incident and said that operatives have launched a manhunt for the perpetrators. Okoye assured the public that the command would leave no stone unturned in its efforts to ensure that those behind the attack and other senseless killings are arrested and brought to justice.
He also urged residents of the state to provide any actionable intelligence that would help rid the state of criminal elements.
Proofreading by Uchechi Ojo, Sub-editor at Neptune Prime.
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