An Anglican priest in Imo, Rev Emeka Merenu has been killed by unknown hoodlums on Tuesday.
It was gathered that Merenu met his untimely when the hoodlums waylaid him, killed him and set his vehicle ablaze.
Until his death, Merenu who was a native of Amaorji in Nkwerre in the Nkwerre Local Government Area of the state served as the priest-in-charge of St Andrew’s Anglican church, Ihitte-Ukwa in the Orsu Local Government Area of the state.
A member of the church told The Punch that the hoodlums stormed the church premises and butchered the priest there.
A source said, “The priest in charge of St Andrew’s Anglican Church in Ihitte-Ukwa in Orsu Local Government Area of Imo State was killed this morning.
“His attackers stormed the church compound where he lived, butchered him and burnt his car before running away.”
Asked what could be the reason for the murder, the source said, “The church has a school on the premises. His attackers might have been angry that the slain priest was giving security protection to the students of the school who were writing this year’s WASSCE for Senior Secondary schools.”
A senior member of the church in the Orlu Anglican diocese who preferred to be anonymous confirmed the incident to our correspondent.
He told our correspondent that the diocese had been thrown into a morning mood.
When contacted, the police spokesperson in the state, Micheal Abattam, confirmed the murder incident and added that investigation had commenced with the intention to arresting the suspects.
