On Saturday, tragedy struck the God’s Doing Healing and Deliverance Ministry in Orodo, located within the Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State, when gunmen stormed the church and took the life of Samuel Ogbonna, a well-known youth leader.
Samuel Ogbonna, who also owned a local restaurant and bar named Feel at Home, was a trusted associate of the church’s general overseer, Evangelist Maduabuchi Ernest, commonly referred to as “Dibia Ekpere” or “Father MEMC.” Ogbonna lost his life in the brutal attack while a church service was underway.
According to a source close to the incident, a group of eight heavily armed individuals arrived at the church in two vehicles, a red Highlander and a black Lexus sedan, at approximately 4 pm. At the time, a religious program was in progress. The gunmen demanded to see the pastor, but after learning that he hadn’t yet arrived, they became visibly agitated.
In their frustration, the attackers ordered the entire congregation to lie face down on the floor. “I had never witnessed anything like this before,” said one witness. “They instructed us to lie down, and while we were on the ground, they took our personal belongings—phones, bags, and cash—before speeding away from the scene.”
As the gunmen fled the compound, gunshots rang out, accompanied by a chilling scream. It was later discovered that the shout came from Samuel Ogbonna, who had been outside the church during the raid. He had momentarily stepped out to handle some personal matters and was on his way back to the church when he encountered the assailants. Sensing danger, Ogbonna tried to escape into a nearby bush, but the gunmen pursued him and shot him multiple times.
Adding to the chaos, the attackers abducted two individuals from the congregation—a man and a nursing mother. However, after a short drive along the Owerri-Orlu expressway, they decided to release the hostages. In addition to the abduction, the gunmen also made away with the church leader’s vehicle.
The entire ordeal has left the community of Orodo shaken with fear. Many residents, concerned for their safety, have fled the area, leaving the church under lockdown for security reasons. The horrific event has caused widespread alarm, with the church now closed until further notice.
Source: independent.ng
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