By Onome Oghenetega
Hoodlums alleged to be Fulani herdsmen have reportedly killed one Prophet Stephen Akpor, attached to Celestial Church of Christ, Breakthrough Cathedral, Ibusa, Parish I, in Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State.
The deceased, who was a resident pastor of the church, hailed from Orogun, the hometown of the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, in Ughelli North Local Government Area of the state.
The suspected herdsmen were reported to have stormed the church on Friday night when the deceased cleric was praying and counselling some members of church.
Akpor, according to sources in the community, was said to have been shot repeatedly by his assailants who broke into the church through the window.
The wife of the cleric was said to have witnessed the gruesome killing of her husband by the hoodlums.
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The Most Supreme Evangelist Isaiah George of the Archdiocese of Ughelli I confirmed the killing of the deceased, described the killing of his colleague who was transferred to the parish from Calabar in Cross River State as painful.
He also confirmed that the deceased hailed from Orogun in Ughelli North Local Government Area of the state.
Recounting the incident, a member of the church, Mr Temitope said, “We were here in the church premises with the prophet and some church members, when suddenly two Fulani men came with rifles and ordered us to lie down, then our pastor got up and went into his room.
“They beckoned on him to come back but he ignored them. At that point, those of us lying down were matched into the bush and they ordered us to remove our garments and lie facing down.
“As we were about complying, one of them realizing that they had left one person at the church again led us back to meet with the pastor. When we got back, they again ordered us to lie down while one of them went to meet the pastor in the room.
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“Next thing we heard was an argument as the pastor refused to open the door. At that point, the second one joined them and they started shooting inside from the window after they removed the net; that was when we had the opportunity to escape into the bush.
“He was gunned down through the window. Before the police got here and took him to the General Hospital, Ibusa, he died.”
Meanwhile, one of the doctors who received the deceased at the Ibusa General Hospital said the pastor was also stabbed after being shot, adding that he died as a result of the injuries he sustained from the stabbing.
The state police public relations officer in the state, DSP Onome Onovwakpoyeya, confirmed the incident to newsmen on Saturday, saying that the police had commenced an investigation into the matter.
