Abducted Anglican Clergyman Released

… Police in manhunt for Cultists who burnt down former SSG’s house.

 

 

Daniel Efe/Port Harcourt

 

 

Anglican Pastor Rev. Okwu Azu, who was abducted on Monday May 6 by  suspected Cultists that raided Ndele Community and burnt down the  house of the Chief Sampson Agbaru, former Secretary to the State Government and former President-General of Ogbako-Ikwerre, Socio-Cultural an umbrella body of Ikwerre ethnic nationality worldwide has regained his freedom.

 

The details surrounding the release of Rev.Okwu Azu and whether ransom was paid remained sketchy at the time of writing this report.

 

A dependable source close to Anglican Diocese where Rev.Okwu Azu serves told  our Correspondent in Port Harcourt that the Clergyman was released 48 hours later after kidnap unharmed.

 

The Police in Public Relation Officer, PPRO, Nnamdi Omoni, confirmed that the hoodlums are suspected cultist in the area who invaded the former SSG home and set it on fire.

 

The Rivers Police image maker also confirmed the abduction of an Anglican Vicar and his aide in the same community by the gunmen.

 

He said police have also launched an investigation to ascertain the level of damage to the building and also to get the two persons kidnapped released.

 

The burning of  the former SSG, Sampson Agbaru, in Port Harcourt it was learnt that the attack on the elder statesman is regarded by the State Government as criminality gone too far.

 

However, facts have emerged on the possible reason behind the setting ablaze of Chief Sampson Agbaru’s  house in Ndele, Emohua local Government area of Rivers state, Nigeria by suspected  Cultists.

 

The suspected cultists invaded and burnt down Agbaru’s House  May 6,2019 on allegations that he and some prominent Chiefs in the area who have insisted on zero tolerance for cultism and other social vices are working with security agencies to arrest their members.

 

We gathered that the suspected cultists accused Chief Agbaru and some other Chiefs of been behind the raid on the community by men of the Inspector General of Police monitoring unit last week after two oil company workers were kidnapped and their security aides killed around Rumuji -Ndele axis of East West road in Emohua local Government area of Rivers state.

 

Sources revealed that the security operatives who came for a rescue mission raided the houses of some of the cult kingpins, a development the cultists suspects got the backing of some prominent Chiefs in the community including Chief Sampson Agbaru.

 

Chief Sampson Agbaru’s house before it was burnt by Cultists

 

READ ALSO: Rivers State Government To Sanction Companies That Patronize Cultists

Meanwhile, as the state government continues to pile up heat against cult gangs and criminality in the state to improving  its security across the state, Rivers State Government will henceforth sanction any company that awards surveillance jobs to cultists.

 

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike made this known during a Courtesy Visit by the Ambassador of France to Nigeria, Mr. Jerome Pasquier at the Government House Port Harcourt on Wednesday.

 

Governor Wike said  that before such surveillance jobs are awarded, the companies  should inform the State Government for proper scrutiny of the beneficiaries.

 

“Companies encourage cultists by giving them surveillance jobs. We must know those doing these surveillance  jobs.

 

“When you empower them, they have more money to acquire arms. Any company  that gives surveillance jobs to cultists will be sanctioned”