Suspected ritualists behead 37-year-old man inside church in Bayelsa

*Armoured cables thief electrocuted

Etinum Ogunde, Yenagoa

A 37-year-old man, Anthony Egbo, who was attached to Living Faith Church (aka) Winners Chapel at Elebele community in the Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, was reportedly murdered inside the church by suspected ritualists.

Sources said an unnamed assistant pastor of the church discovered the mutilated corpse of the deceased.

It was gathered that the deceased’s head was removed from his body while the throat was equally missing.

Youth President of Elebele community, Comrade Famous Egbo, confirmed that the corpse of the deceased was discovered early in the morning on Wednesday.

He said: “When people saw him, he was beheaded. His throat was missing. People suspected that it was not unconnected with killing for ritual purposes.”

The Police Public Relations Officers, Bayelsa State Police Command, SP Asinim Butswat, confirmed the killing.

He, however, said the report from the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Kolo community indicated that “the attack was at the head region and his throat was slit.”

Meanwhile, an unidentified suspected vandal was electrocuted at Osiri in Yenagoa, the state capital.

It was learnt that the roasted corpse of the alleged vandal was discovered early on Wednesday morning hanging on the electric pole after electrocution.

A resident of the area, Pereko Stanley, said the suspect had succeeded in cutting one of the armoured cables but was unfortunate during his second attempt when power was restored and was electrocuted.