ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

The General Overseer of Goodness of Jesus Ministry, Wula, in Boki Local Government Area of Cross River State, Pastor Roman Samson Okoye, is currently being interrogated by detectives at the Homicide Section of the Cross River State Police Command over the alleged flogging to death of a 13-year-old girl, Nancy Peter, with a horsewhip, for allegedly stealing N30,000.

The teenager was reportedly taken to the pastor for counselling, but the session allegedly turned tragic when he began flogging her repeatedly until she collapsed and died.

Her mother, Agnes Peter, who is now regretting taking her daughter to the cleric, said she only wanted him to counsel and pray for the girl.

“If I had known that this would lead to her death, I would never have taken her to my pastor,” she lamented.

The pastor and the deceased’s mother have both been arrested by the Cross River State Police Command.

It was gathered that on June 1, 2026, Agnes Peter took her daughter to Pastor Okoye’s residence after accusing her of stealing money. The mother reportedly alleged that the teenager had repeatedly stolen from her and was becoming wayward.

A police source at the Homicide Section of the command, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Saturday Sun: “The incident happened on June 1, 2026, when the mother took her 13-year-old daughter to her pastor’s house over the alleged theft of N30,000.

“The woman said she had kept N30,000 at home and could not find it when she needed it. She accused her daughter of stealing the money and took her to the pastor.

“The woman left the girl with the pastor. By the time she returned, the pastor had allegedly flogged the girl severely with a horsewhip and was taking her to the hospital, where she was confirmed dead.”

Narrating his version of events, Pastor Okoye said: “My name is Roman Samson Okoye. I am 45 years old and the General Overseer of Goodness of Jesus Ministry. Before starting my ministry, I worked in several churches, including Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM), Mount Sinai Church and Minister of God Church.

“I started my ministry some years ago. I met Mrs Peter about four years ago when she had a misunderstanding with her husband. She had three children for him, but he sent her away. I do not know what happened between them. The man was not a member of my church; only the woman and her children attended my church.

“When she came to me, she had nothing. I began supporting the family by helping with the children’s school fees and upkeep.

“God answered her prayers and she started a fish business. The girl had been stealing her mother’s money. Whenever the woman complained, I would appeal to her to remain calm. I would call the girl and scold her. This happened more than 20 times.

“On June 1 this year, the woman brought the girl to my house. She complained that the girl had stolen her money again and was also in the habit of staying away from home. She said the girl stole N30,000 and asked me to beat her. She also said she had already beaten her but wanted me to discipline her as well.

“I took my horsewhip and started beating her. I gave her about 15 strokes before I noticed she had become very weak. I immediately rushed her to the hospital, but she died before we arrived.

“I feel very sad. I never intended to kill her. It was her mother who insisted that she should be beaten. She was like a daughter to me. I deeply regret what happened and I do not know what to do now.”

However, the deceased’s mother, Agnes Peter, a resident of Obanliku in Boki Local Government Area, denied asking the pastor to flog her daughter. She insisted that she only took the teenager to him for counselling and prayers.

The mother of three said: “It is true that I took my daughter to the pastor after I discovered that my N30,000 was missing. It was not the first time she had stolen my money and it was not the first time I reported her to the pastor.

“On that day, when she refused to disclose where she kept the money, she later confessed while we were at the pastor’s house and told me she had hidden it in one of her trousers.

“I immediately left to verify her claim and found the N30,000 in the pocket of one of her trousers. The pastor had not started beating her when I left.

“While returning, I saw him rushing my daughter to the hospital. I met him on the way.

“I did not tell him to kill my daughter. I only wanted him to scold, counsel and pray for her. I was not there when he allegedly beat her. I only saw him taking her to the hospital.”

The spokesperson of the Cross River State Police Command, ASP Ewa Eitokpah Sunday, confirmed the arrest of the suspects and reiterated the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property across the state.

According to him, investigations into the incident were ongoing. He assured of the command’s committed to ensuring that justice is served.

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Gunmen were reported to have killed the Benue State chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, Ardo Risku Muhammad, and one other, identified as Yakubu Isah.

The killing of the MACBAN state chairman has raised tension in some communities in the state.

According to the son who spoke to newsmen in Makurdi Friday night, his father had attended a peace meeting allegedly convened by the Divisional Police Officer of Ohinmini with leaders of the Ayunne community in the Ohinmini Local Government Area of the state on Friday.

He explained that after the meeting, his father and his colleague were travelling back when some gunmen ambushed him at an Okuku village in Otukpo LGA and killed him along with the other occupant of the vehicle.

His eldest son,, who disclosed the incident to newsmen in a telephone chat late on Friday, said that the father was ambushed and killed.

Confirming the incident, the Chairman of Otukpo LGA, Maxwell Ogiri, said that there is palpable tension in the community where the incident happened and other neighbouring communities in the LG.

He said, “It is true that the state chairman of MACBAN was killed within Otukpo LGA this afternoon; the killing has raised tension in the community and environs.”

Ogiri, who called on residents of the local government to remain calm, said that security operatives were on top of the situation.

Also speaking on the incident, the chairman of Ohinmini LGA, Adole Gabriel, stated that the MACBAN state chairman had attended a peace meeting convened by the divisional police officer of the local government on Friday.

“You know, there was a crisis at the Ayunne community where some people were killed some time ago, and the DPO of Ohinmini convened a peace meeting with the Fulani herders and the community.

“I was told that the meeting was fruitful, and at the end of the meeting, the man (MACBAN chairman) left. Unfortunately, I learnt that some gunmen ambushed his vehicle in the Okudu community in Otukpo LGA and killed him and one other person.

Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the state command, DSP Udeme Edet, said she has received the report and promised to release a statement to the effect soon.

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Two people were killed on Thursday in Imo State when a bomb explosion occurred inside a large drainage channel in the state.

The police spokesperson in Imo State, Henry Okoye, said in a statement on Friday that the incident happened at about 9:15 p.m. in Owerri West Local Government Area of the state.

Mr Okoye, a deputy superintendent of police, identified the slain victims as Hyginus Akalonu, 32, of Umulumu, Ehime Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State, and Victor Egwu, 22, of Agba, Ishielu Local Government Area, Ebonyi State.

“Preliminary investigation indicates that the two suspects (victims), who were inside the large drainage channel at the time of the explosion, are suspected scrap metal scavengers.

“They sustained severe burn injuries during the incident and were promptly evacuated to the Federal University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Owerri, where they were confirmed dead while receiving treatment,” he said.

The spokesperson said police operatives immediately visited the scene of the explosion and cordoned off upon receipt of a tip-off about the incident.

He said the police in the state subsequently deployed the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit to “secure and thoroughly sweep” the scene.

“The area has since been declared safe,” he assured.

Mr Okoye said the police in the state had begun an investigation to determine the cause and circumstances surrounding the explosion.

“Further updates will be communicated as the investigation progresses,” he assured.

The spokesperson said the Commissioner of Police in Imo State Audu Bosso, has assured residents of the state that the police in the state were “on top of the situation.”

“The area has been secured, and there is no cause for panic,” Mr Bosso said.

The commissioner urged the residents to remain vigilant and promptly report any “suspicious objects or activities” to the police.

This is not the first time a bomb would explode in Imo State.

In September 2025, one person was killed when a bomb explosion occurred in Obinwanne Community, Njaba Local Government Area of the state.

The September explosion occurred about three months after a similar bomb explosion rocked Awo-Idemili, a community in Orsu Local Government Area of the South-eastern state.

Aside from some injured victims, a middle-aged woman was killed during the explosion which occurred in June 2025.

In November 2024, at least two people were killed when a bomb exploded at the International Market in Umuna, a community in the Orlu Local Government Area of the state.

Although no group has claimed responsibility for the bomb explosions, the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has been blamed for some deadly attacks in the South-east.

But the separatist group has repeatedly denied any involvement in the attacks in the region.

IPOB is leading the agitation for an independent state of Biafra, which it wants carved out from the south-east and some parts of south-south Nigeria.