A pastor from a white garment church in Igbo-Eze South Local Government Area of Enugu State has been arrested in connection with the tragic death of four siblings in the community.
The chairman of the council, Mr. Ferdinand Ukwueze, confirmed the arrest during a condolence visit to the family of the deceased on Saturday.
While the identity of the pastor was not disclosed, he was said to be affiliated with a local Sabbath Church. Other suspected accomplices involved in the incident are reportedly on the run.
The victims — Kamsiyochukwu Ezema (7), Ezinne Ezema (6), Ujunwa Ezema (5), and Chinedu Ezema (2) — were allegedly murdered with a pestle by the arrested pastor and his associates.
Although the motive for the killings remains unclear, local sources revealed that the police are actively investigating the case.
No official update has been released by the authorities.
Chairman Ukwueze condemned the crime during his visit to the scene, describing it as a shocking and heinous act.
He assured the community that justice would be pursued and ordered the immediate sealing of the premises linked to the incident.
The location was believed to have been used for unauthorized herbal treatments, informal psychiatric services, and other unregulated spiritual activities.
He noted that law enforcement agencies, including the police, DSS, civil defence, and other operatives, were already involved in the investigation and had apprehended key suspects.
“We are committed to ensuring justice for the victims and will continue working with security agencies to prevent such tragedies in the future,” Ukwueze said.
He urged community members to cooperate with authorities and share any relevant information that could aid the investigation, assuring that confidentiality would be maintained.
Meanwhile, the grieving parents of the children, Mr. and Mrs. Chinonso Ezema, called for a thorough investigation and prosecution of those responsible.
Efforts to obtain a statement from the Enugu State Police Command were unsuccessful, as the command’s spokesperson, SP Daniel Ndukwe, did not respond to calls or messages as of Sunday evening.