Ogwashi-Uku: Gunmen Storm Church Workers’ Vigil, Shoot Pastor, Abduct 6

By Daniel Dafe

Gunmen on Friday night stormed an all-night gathering of church workers of Elyon Paradise Ministry, Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State, shooting sporadically, a situation that left the pastor, Apostle Divine Omodia, badly injured.

The church located at Asagba Ogwashi, close to Ogwashi-Uku Polytechnic, came under attack at about 10p.m.

Speaking to Oasis Magazine, wife of the pastor, Pastor (Mrs.) Faith Omodia, said the vigil was strictly for church workers.

Narrating what happened, she said: “I was lying down with my baby in the church hall while some men were outside with my husband when suddenly we heard gunshots. We saw bullets in the church so they were shooting inside the auditorium. One of them saw me where I was hiding and shot at me but it did not penetrate; I just saw fire.

“At this time, my husband was already shot but we did not know. The bullet cut of his two fingers. He was also shot on his lap.

“The gunmen came into the church and forced everyone in the church building out. Some of the men who were outside discussing with my husband had already escaped.

The women inside were all brought out of the church building and made to lie down outside. They then left with some members and ordered the rest of us to go back into the church building.”

She claimed she heard some of the gunmen sound like Fulani herdsmen.

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She continued: “We then locked all the windows of the church. I started encouraging those with me that we needed to pray and not be afraid. At this time, we still did not know that my husband was shot. It was one of the members freed by the gunmen who raised an alarm when she saw my husband lying on the floor and looking weak. We all looked for a way to rush him to the hospital because at this time, he was saying that he is feeling weak. He had lost much blood.”

Continuing, she said a medical operation was to be carried out on her husband at the hospital were he is receiving treatment.

She disclosed that they got to the hospital at 12a.m but he was not attended to till 5a.m. this morning, just as she said he had to be placed on oxygen.

Meanwhile, she said three of the four invaders carried guns while the last was armed with a dagger.

At the time of publishing this report, Oasis Magazine, learnt that two security men and four members of the church were still missing.

A church source said the names of those missing have been submitted to the police, adding that the pastor is responding to treatment.

The source gave the names of the missing church members as Mrs Helen Onwuamaeze, Ariyo Emmanuel, Chike Okolo and Mrs Blessing Waye.

Reacting to the development, a palace source said: “The level of insecurity in Ogwashi-Uku is terrible. Our DPO and Area Commander are not helping at all. Killings and kidnappings occur every day. We are tired.”

Attempts to speak with the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Edafe Bright were unsuccessful at the time of this report.