A church went to bury one of her departed on, Friday, at a community in Ahoada East local government area of Rivers State. Only Providence brought them back to Port Harcourt safely but a son to the deceased woman was shot dead, his corpse taken away. But that’s not the end of this tragic story that aptly captures the flowing Rivers of blood that Rivers State has become.
The family had hired an ambulance with which it was conveying the remains of the woman home for burial. On the way, this group of armed men, attired in angelic flowing white robe but armed to death with Kalashnikov and AK-47 riffles, waylaid the ambulance, took the casket hostage, demanding for One Million Naira (N1,000,000) from the bereaved family for its release. They ordered the ambulance driver to “vanish” with his vehicle, and the man gladly fled the scene.
The news of the tragic drama got to the children of the late woman, which made one of his sons to make the trip of which he never returned home alive. Soon as he got to the scene to demand for the release of his mother’s corpse, in the presence of others, the armed men shot him dead, dragged his lifeless body into the bush. Eventually, someone intervened which led to the release of the corpse to the church which vehicle eventually conveyed the remains to the compound for interment.
Soon as the sermon commenced, the villagers served the church notice of an impending cultists’ attack, demanding they left immediately. The church Minister who was preaching was whisked away as every guest took to their heels. Even villagers sourced for safe locations. A woman from the community pleaded with the church to accommodate three of her children in their vehicle, just to ferry them to safety. The church returned to Port Harcourt with the three children who are at the moment taking refuge there.
The corpse was left to the bereaved family to bury. This is a glimpse of the sad story that Rivers State has become.
God, help this State!
– Bekee Anyalewechi
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