Gunmen Kill Anglican Priest, Emeka Merenu ‘For Inviting Soldiers To Protect Imo school’

Unknown gunmen killed an Anglican Priest, Reverend Emeka Merenu at his parsonage at Orsu Ihiteukwa in Orsu Local government area Imo State.

Until his brutal murder on Tuesday, Rev Emeka Merenu was the priest-in-charge of St. Andrew’s Anglican Church, Ihitte Ukwa, in the Orsu LGA of the state.

It was gathered that the attackers stormed the church premises and butchered the priest in the early hours of Tuesday, before setting his vehicle ablaze.

PUNCH quoted a source saying that the priest was killed on an unfounded allegation that he brought in military men to secure the secondary school under his supervision.

“The priest in charge of St Andrew’s Anglican Church in Ihitte-Ukwa in Orsu Local Government Area  of Imo State was killed this morning.

“His attackers stormed the church compound where he lived, butchered him and burnt his car before running away.”

When asked what could be the reason for the murder, the source said:

“The church has a school on the premises. His attackers were probably angry that the priest gave security protection to the students of the school who were sitting this year’s West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination.”

When contacted, the police spokesperson in the state, Micheal Abattam, confirmed the murder of the priest, adding, “Investigation has commenced with a view to arresting the suspects.

The killing of the priest comes hours after gunmen invaded a school in Imo, and chased away students who were participating in the ongoing 2021 West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (WASSCE), on Monday.