Security operatives on Wednesday razed Owner of Life Sabbath Synagogue in Amii village in the Akabo community, Ikeduru local government area of Imo state.
According to The Punch, the security operatives also razed a residential house in the village and arrested persons, including the founder and priest in-charge of the church, pastor Ikechukwu Umaefulem.
Our correspondent who visited the scene, saw few members of the church, including the founder’s wife, Mrs Oluchi Umaefulem and his cousin, Ikechukwu Azuatalam, picking the remaining property of the church. The priest’s wife told our correspondent that the security operatives came in vehicles, including an Armoured Personal Carrier.
She said, “My husband is the pastor in the church. We started in 2015 and we have been worshipping the true God of Israel. Married and responsible persons are people who worship here.
“Security operatives came here this afternoon and set the church of God on fire, destroying our property including musical instruments like a set of band we use to worship God.”
“I don’t know what caused the attack. I just want to appeal to the authority to release my husband. He has no criminal record. He is sick and had been on drugs since one week now”
Our correspondent recalled that the village where the church was burnt was where security operatives had in June set nine houses on fire after, rescuing a female police officer from one of the houses who was kidnapped.
The police had said that a slain army deserter, popularly known as Dragon, was using the area as a camp to launch attacks on security operatives and formations in the state.
The police spokesperson in the state, Mike Abattam, told our correspondent that he would get the full details of the incident and get back, but he had yet to do so as of the time of filing this report.
