Etim Effiong
A senior pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God in Owerri, Imo State, Thompson Onyekwuru has been stabbed to death while trying to break up a fight between a couple.
The police command in the state confirmed the death of the pastor in a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Mike Abattam on Monday.
According to Abattam, the incident happened at Umukoto Nekede in Owerri. He noted that Onyekwuru was a pastor with the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) in the state.
The police stated that Onyekwuru, 62, was trying to prevent Obumneke Onyemechileuzo from stabbing his wife, Ogechi Onyemechileuzo, during a fight, before he was allegedly killed.
The PPRO added that the husband, Obumneke, later died of gunshot wound he sustained.
He said: “Following a distress call on Monday, July 19, 2021, around 2 pm, at the Divisional Police Headquarters Nekede, Owerri, that one Obumneke Onyemechileuzo armed with a kitchen knife was beating his wife, Ogechi Favour Onyemechileuzo.
“When a pastor with the Redeemed Christian Church Owerri, Pastor Thompson Onyekwuru, intervened by stopping him from stabbing his wife, the suspect rushed at him, stabbed him on his back and he fell to the down unconscious.
“On arrival at the scene, the police team saw the suspect seriously beating his wife, threatening to stab her and ran to prevent him from stabbing his wife.
“On sighting the police, he attempted stabbing one of the officers on the neck and he was shot on the leg in self-defence.
“He fell down and was immediately disarmed.
“But the victims and the suspect were rushed to Rosana Hospital, where the doctor on call referred the victims to Human Race Hospital, where the pastor and the suspect were confirmed dead.
“The woman was admitted in the intensive care unit of the hospital, and she is responding to treatment, while the corpses were later deposited at Agbala Mortuary, Agbala.”
The command’s spokesperson said that the exhibit knife was taken to the station, while the Commissioner of Police had ordered a discreet investigation into the case to unravel the cause of the incident.
“The Commissioner of Police also advised the community to maintain peace, be law-abiding and go about their legitimate businesses pending the outcome of the investigation,” he said.