From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
The Benue State Police Command said it has arrested two suspects for brutalising a pastor accused of stealing a boy’s penis in Makurdi.
The accused, Dr. Emmanuel Aime, is a Chief Lecturer at the Akawe Torkula Polytechnic, Makurdi, and also a pastor with the Living Faith Church, Wurukum, Makurdi.
It was gathered that earlier yesterday, at about 9:30am, Dr Aime had gone to the place to preach and was accused of organ (penis) theft without any proof.
It was said that he was mercilessly beaten to coma by a mob in front of First Bank located at the Wurukum area of Makurdi, the Benue State capital, where he had gone to spread the word of God.
A witness told Daily Sun that not long after the alarm was raised, hundreds of motorcyclists (Okada riders) gathered at the scene as the majority of the young men joined in beating up the man of God.
The witness said: “The pastor was only preaching and evangelising close to the bank. Suddenly, a boy he prayed for started shouting that Dr. Aime had stolen his penis. The man would have been lynched if not for the intervention of the military personnel who were passing by.”
Confirming the incident in Makurdi, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Benue State Command, SP Catherine Anene, described the incident as unfortunate, adding that two suspects have been arrested and would be made to face the wrath of the law.
She said it was a shame that some people did not have respect for the law and were bent on taking laws into their hands.
“What a shame to some people. They don’t have respect for the law, not for elders or anybody. How can this happen in this generation?”
She urged traditional rulers, religious leaders, community leaders and other stakeholders in the state to rise to fight against what she described as a barbaric act.
“Let’s educate people please. This is too bad. Two suspects have been arrested and they will be dealt with accordingly,” she noted.
Recently, a pastor with Deeper life church was also accused of organ theft in the Kanshio area of Makurdi and youth also took laws into their hands, and beat their accusers to a pulp. Anene said there was no such thing as organ theft and advised the people to desist from making such allegations and taking laws into their hands.