Gunmen suspected to be hired assassins have killed the General Overseer of Mount of Solution Redeemed Church in Ikot Ekang community, Abak Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Prophet Elisha Asuquo.
Eyewitness account said the assassins stormed Prophet Asuquo’s church premises at about 7pm last Friday and murdered him.
Also deleted in the operation was a pastor of the church, Pastor Aniekan Ibanga.
Sources from the area told some newsmen that the gunmen came to the church premises on a motorcycle when the pastors were holding a meeting and shot them dead.
The gunmen reportedly fled the community through Abak-Ikot Ekpene federal highway.
It was gathered that the late men of God, Elisha Asuquo and Pastor Ibanga hailed from Adiasim in Essien Udim Local Government Area and Ikot Obioikpa village, Afaha Obong Clan in Abak Local Government Area of the state.
A community leader in Ikot Ekang, Bishop John Kpongkpong, when contacted by some newsmen, described the killings as shocking.
He said he was preparing for a church programme by 8p.m., when he received a call about the killings, noting: “While I was still on that call, another person came in and told me that Prophet Elisha and Pastor Aniekan have been killed.
“I had to close from the church and rushed to the palace of the Village Head to inform him of what happened.
“After informing him of what happened, he instructed me to call the police, which I did.
“On getting to the church premises (where the pastors were killed), I saw many people gather while policemen from Abak Division were performing their duty. I appeal to the police to properly investigate the matter.”
It was gathered that a delegation from Ikot Obioikpa led by the village Head, Christopher Udotim has visited the Village Head of Ikot Ekang (place of the incident), Okon Udo to inquire whether there was any issue in the church that led to the killing of their son, Pastor Ibanga.
The village Head of Ikot Ekang, Chief Udo in response told the delegation that he never heard that the Church had any crisis since its establishment in the community.
The younger brother to Apostle Ibanga, Uduak Ibanga told newsmen that he recovered his late brother’s two phones in a nearby bush.
