A Pastor with Dunamis Church was killed after a Dunamis church building collapsed at the North Bank vicinity of Makurdi metropolis in Benue State on Tuesday, authorities confirmed.
Details of the immediate cause of the incident is unclear, but the Police on Wednesday confirmed that four others sustained various degree of injuries and are now receiving treatment in the hospital.
Eye witness account said the Pastor and four other members of the Church were observing prayers at the time the incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday.
Some residential buildings including electricity infrastructure around the building were affected by the wreckage.
The Church authorities have not issued any statement in relation to the incident at the time of filing in this report but the Benue State Commissioner of Police, CP Bartholomew Nnamdi Onyeka told Journalists that the Command was aware of the situation.
The Police Commissioner also confirmed the arrest of four suspects in connection with the murder of a former President of the Benue State Customary Court of Appeal, late Justice Margaret Igbetar.
CP Onyeka who paraded the suspects told Journalists that the murder was committed by family relations of the slain Justice with the aid of her driver.
“You will recall that on 24th August, 2023, a case of Culpable Homicide involving the late Justice Margaret Mary Igbetar (RTD) was reported and I had promised to ensure that Justice is served. One Aondohemba Joseph, a Nephew of the deceased was arrested immediately”.
He explained that a more detailed and advance investigation started when the case was transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) and handed over to the Operation Zenda investigative team to continue.
He said the prime suspect, a 200 Level Political Science Student of the National Open University of Nigeria who eventually confessed to have planned and recruited other people to help him in killing his Aunty led a team of detectives to Adikpo, Kwande Local Government Area of the state where the three other suspects were arrested, including a 63 year old man, Igbazenda Gbidye and Dzungwenen Ukor who is 40 years old.
According to the Commissioner, “these suspects admitted that, Aondohemba Joseph had reported to them that his father died and left so much property in the hands of his aunty (the deceased) and she has refused to hand the said property over to him. They agreed to join him in eliminating her so that he can have access to his property”.
CP Onyeka speaking further stated that One Akuhwa Barnabas, a 32 year old driver to the deceased who was also arrested, corroborated their statements by admitting that he was the one who allowed the gang access to the house and manned the gate for them until they finished the assassination process.
“Let me use this opportunity to commend the good people of Benue state for their patience and cooperation. The command will continue to do it’s best to rid the state of crime,” the CP assured.
He said the suspects would be charged to court for trials as soon as investigation is concluded by the Police.
