The Imo State Commissioner of Police, Abutu Yaro, has ordered an investigation into the killing of a pastor with the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) in the state, Thompson Onyekwuru.
The 62-year-old cleric was allegedly stabbed to death on Wednesday, July 14, by one Obumneke Omyemechileuzo of Umukoto- Umudibia Nekede in the Owerri West Local Government Area of the state.
Obumneke allegedly stabbed the pastor when the victim went to separate a fight between him (suspect) and his wife, Ogechi Onyemechileuzo.
A statement by the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mike Abattam, stated that while the suspect also died, his wife sustained injuries.
The statement read, “We received a distress call on July 14, around 2pm at the Divisional Police Headquarters, Nekede, Owerri, Imo State, that one Obumneke Onyemechileuzo, 36, suspected to be of unsound mind and armed with a kitchen knife, was violently beating his wife, Ogechi Onyemechileuzo, 26, over a minor domestic issue.
When a pastor with the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Owerri, lmo State, Pastor Thompson Onyekwuru, 62, intervened by stopping him from stabbing his wife, the suspect rushed at him, stabbed him in his back and he fell unconscious.
On arrival at the scene, the police team saw the suspect seriously beating his wife and threatening to stab her. On sighting the police, he attempted stabbing one of the officers in the neck and he was shot in the leg in self-defence. He fell and was immediately disarmed.
“The victims and the suspect were rushed to Rosana Hospital Nekede, where the doctor on call referred them to the Human Race Hospital, Nekede Road, Owerri, due to the gravity of the injuries they sustained. The pastor and the suspect were confirmed dead. The woman was admitted to the intensive care unit of the hospital and she is responding to treatment.”
“The woman was admitted in the intensive care unit of the hospital and she is responding to treatment. The corpses were later deposited at Agbala Mortuary Agbala in Owerri West LGA of Imo state. The exhibit knife was recovered to the station.
“Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Imo State Command, CP Abutu Yaro, fdc, has ordered a discreet investigation into the case to unravel the cause of the incident. He then, advised the community to maintain peace, be law-abiding and go about their legitimate businesses pending the outcome of the investigation.”
Credit: The PUNCH
