Tragedy struck in Imo State on Tuesday 14th September, 2021 after hoodlums allegedly by militants belonging to the armed wing of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB murdered an Anglican priest, Rev Emeka Merenu at the Church vicarage in the presence of his family.
Our correspondent in the Diocese of Orlu reported that Rev Chukwuemeka Mmerenu was at the early hours of Tuesday, 14th September 2021 murdered in cold blood right inside the parsonage of Church of Redemption, Okuru in Orsu L. G. A. Imo State. His Vehicle parked in the Church Compound was also burnt down.
Rev. Emeka, who was a Citizen of Nkwerre and doubled as both the Resident Priest of Anglican Church of Redemption, Okuru and Principal of Trinity Secondary School, Orsuihiteukwa in Orsu Local Government Area and of Anglican Diocese of Orlu was alleged to have been killed by members of the ESN (Eastern Security Network) following unclear insinuations that he had a parley with men of the Nigerian Army.
Close source had it that the hoodlums suspected to be ESN had seized his phone the previous day being Monday when he went to bring the WAEC Supervisor assigned to his School so his students could write the English language scheduled for the day. It was said that the military also stormed and searched the school premises during the examination same day after a very prolonged gun-battle with men of the ESN.
A senior member of the church in Orlu Anglican diocese who preferred to be anonymous confirmed the incident to our correspondent. The priest’s car was set ablaze by purported members of the Eastern Security Network (ESN), who sprayed bullets in the air, as they sped away.
He told our correspondent that the diocese had been thrown into a morning mood.
The police spokesperson in the state, Micheal Abattam, confirmed the murder incident and added that investigation had commenced with the intention of arresting the perpetrators of this barbaric act.
Efforts by ACNN to reach the Diocesan as at the time of this report is yet to be positive as he isn’t picking up his call nor responded to text message.
