• As Okorocha hails arrest, prosecution of 5 suspects

From George Onyejiuwa, Owerri

PASTOR Mike Agba­hiwe, has said his wife, Bridget, was never be­headed as widely believed. He said she was beaten to death by a mob of fanati­cal muslims.

Agbahiwe, indigene of Orodo in Mbaitoli Local Government of Imo State, who returned to the state for the first time, met with Governor Rochas Okoro­cha at the weekend at the Government House Ow­erri with his relations and explained his wife was gruesomely murdered in his presence by the mus­lim fanatics.

He narrated how he survived the attack.

“One Muslim man called Dauda came to my wife’s shop and was wash­ing his leg in front of the shop.

“My wife told the man to move a little so she could arrange her goods, but, the man refused. In­stead, the man started to molest her and gripped her neck. In trying to free herself from the grip, Dauda started shouting Allahu Akbar and an an­gry mob quickly gathered

“When we saw that the situation was charged and dangerous, we ran and took refuge in the house of a prominent Alhaji, who is a leader in the area.

“The Alhaji did all he could to calm the mob down. They refused and called him an infidel and broke into his house and killed my wife in my pres­ence. And, if not for the quick intervention of the Police, who immediately used teargas to disperse them, they would have killed me also. But, they destroyed everything I had, my shop, car and so on.

“My wife was never be­headed. But, they hit her head with hard objects. The body of my wife is still in the mortuary with the head. She was not be­headed as it was widely reported,” the Pastor maintained.

Responding, Gover­nor Okorocha said: “The problem is not the death of Mrs. Agbahiwe, but, the manner she was killed. In this country, we must learn to live peace­fully.

“No religion supports killing. Anyone who kills in the name of religion is an evil worshipper and should never mention the name of God. The cold blooded murder of Mrs. Agbahiwe should be seen as a sacrifice for the unity of the country.

“She died as a martyr. Imo State Government will be with the family in this period of grief, and, we shall set up a commit­tee to assist in making sure that she is given a befitting burial.

“She died a heroine as far as we are concerned, as it took more than 100 attackers to kill her.

“Those who killed the woman are cowards.

“The chairman of the traditional rulers’ council in the state would lead a delegation to the Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sa­nusi II to make sure that such ugly incident will never recur anywhere in the country.”