Chidiebere Okafor, 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 state deputy commissioner of police, disclosed the arrest in Port Harcourt on Friday, February, 23, 2018, at a press briefing.
The police alleged that the pastor murdered the three persons on December 13, 2017.
The victims were identified as Mrs 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 into a pregnancy.
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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 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.”
“This murder by the suspect is premeditated, callous and devoid of human sympathy,” he said
The suspect, Pastor Okoroafor, who was reluctant to respond to questions put to him by newsmen, said he was tempted by the devil.
“I don’t know what came over me. It was the handiwork of the devil. I am just begging for forgiveness from the families,” he said.
Police say the suspect will be charged to court next week, and that his church, located Izuoma-Afam in Oyigbo Local Government area has been sealed.
