The Ebonyi State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of an age grade community leader in Afikpor North Local Government Area who allegedly beat a clergyman, one Pastor Oko Chukwu Obeni, to coma.
It was gathered that the embattled age-grade members allegedly dragged the pastor out from his church and gave him 36 strokes of cane for allegedly criticizing their leadership on Facebook.
It was learnt that they equally tied his hands to his back, bathed him with murky water while his elder brother who came to the scene was forced to pay the age-grade leaders the sum of N9,500 to buy off another remaining 18 strokes of canes they wanted to give him (pastor).
According to the pastor, “They called me out. They forced me to lie down and face the ground. After that, they asked me to sit up and come closer. They asked one Amadi Julius Nyerere to brief them about me and he briefed them, telling them that I have been posting things against leaders of our community on Facebook.
He lamented that, “I am at the hospital, I can’t make use of my hands, I can’t hold something. The doctor just came and examined me today and told me to just pray that my present condition is not permanent,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Ebonyi State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP, Loveth Odah, who confirmed the arrest through in a statement signed in Abakaliki, said the command will get into the root of the matter by ensuring that justice is given to the pastor.
According to the police, “Pastor Oko Chukwu Obeni was allegedly Assaulted by the Isi Oru Age Grade led by Julius Amadi Nyerere and his vice Eze Ogbonnaya.
“The leader Mr. Julius has been arrested and he made useful statement to the police, while effort is on to arrest the remaining suspects,” she stated
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