The lifeless body of a pastor, Friday Isinwa, of Seven Days Church of God was on Monday found near a pipeline after a two-day search by villagers.
Sources in the community, Umuhuo, Ikwerrede-Awara community, in the Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State told PUNCH Metro that the deceased, a father of four, was equally a farmer.
He had gone to his farms to harvest cassava when he was waylaid by suspected cult members, who murdered him after striping him naked.
Reports gathered reveals that there had been a supremacy battle in the community between members of the Iceland and Deygbam confraternities, a clash that has resulted in the loss of many lives and properties.
An indigene of the community, who identified himself simply as Kingsley, said, “Pastor Isinwa went to one of his farmlands on Saturday to harvest cassava and did not come back.”
“He was a pastor with Seven Days Church of God in this community. He had four children and was an easy-going man.
“The way we found him showed that his death was terrible; he was stripped naked and made to suffer before he died.
“The community is protesting and we want the government and security agencies to solve this problem in our community once and for all. We can’t continue to live in fear of some young men who have chosen to be thorns in our flesh,”Kingsley added.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Andrew Enwerem, could not be reached for comment as of press time.