A pastor in Afam, Rivers state, has been arrested in connection with the murder of three persons – two women and a nine-month-old girl, all members of his church.
Cyril Okoro, the deputy commissioner of police, disclosed the arrest in Port Harcourt on Friday at a press briefing. Okoro spoke on behalf of the commissioner, Zaki Ahmed.
The police alleged that the pastor (name withheld) murdered the three persons on December 13, 2017.
The victims were identified as Ada Ezeawa, Uluoma Onweagbo and her nine-month-old baby, Christabel Joseph.
“The pastor in a most bizarre manner gruesomely murdered three of his own flock, including an unborn child,” Okoro said.
According to him, the pastor had a sexual relationship with 25-year-old Onweagbo, which resulted in a pregnancy.
On December 11, 2017, Ada Ezeawa and Onweagbo, along with her baby strapped to her back, set out to confront the pastor over the pregnancy.
DCP Okoro said the pastor ingeniously separated his accusers, by luring Ada Ezeawa to an uncompleted building, while he told Onweagbo to stay three “poles” away.
According to Okoro, the pastor strangled Ezeawa in the uncompleted building. Moments after, the suspect rejoined Onweagbo and left with her and the baby on a tricycle (keke) to Afam Roundabout.
From the roundabout, they took a motorbike to an isolated bush on Igberu Road.
According to Okoro, the pastor murdered his second victim in the isolated bush, using the wrapper with which she strapped her baby to the back to suffocate her.
“The baby was equally discovered dead,” he said.
“This murder by the suspect is premeditated, callous and devoid of human sympathy.”
He said the suspect betrayed his ever-trusting girlfriend and church members. He said the pastor manipulated the two victims, following the trust they had in him.
He said autopsy would be conducted on the three corpses for confirmation of the cause of death.
The deputy commissioner said the suspect had confessed to the crime following overwhelming evidence, and would soon be arraigned court.
Meanwhile, the suspect has apologised to the family of the victims, claiming the killing was the handiwork of the devil.