REDEEMED CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF GOD PASTOR CRIES OUT FOR HELP OVER FALSE ACCUSATIONS AND THREAT TO LIFE

REDEEMED CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF GOD PASTOR CRIES OUT FOR HELP OVER FALSE ACCUSATIONS AND THREAT TO LIFE

A pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God Isuikwuato branch , Pastor Royal Ugwueze Nwankwo have called on Civil Society Organisations, well meaning Individuals and the general public to come to his aid and save him and his family from imminent death as a result of insesant persecution and false allegation leveled against him by some members of his family , which have led to contineous arrests and attempts on his life over a family land dispute .

Pastor Royal Ugwueze Nwankwo (right) and Mr. Chimezie Lekwa (left )

Speaking recently to the press , pastor Nwankwo explained that his ordeal started from the day
he refused to support violence in a bitter family land dispute in Umuezem Asunkpa, Umuokombo Autonomous Community, Acha, Isuikwuato Local Government Area of Abia State.
The clergy man alleged that the crisis dated back to June 14, 2021, when his uncle, Chief Imo Nwankwo, informed him that some relatives were attempting to take over portions of their family land. Chief Imo he said, urged him to join forces with him to fight and stop those encroaching on the said land . Pastor Nwankwo said he appealed for dialogue and a peaceful resolution of the matter insisting that bloodshed would only deepen the conflict.

According to him, his refusal to support the confrontation marked the beginning of what he described as relentless persecution.
Pastor Nwankwo alleged that he was repeatedly threatened and , have been chased by armed men on different occasions. He claimed he narrowly escaped an attempted abduction after fleeing into the bush when unidentified men arrived in an unmarked vehicle searching for him.

The pastor further alleged that, in another incident, armed men stormed his residence in the middle of the night, forcefully broke into his home and allegedly abducted his wife when they could not find him . He said she was later released after hours of fear and uncertainty.

He also claimed that he was arrested several times by security operatives, detained in Umuahia and later transferred to Abuja over trumped up allegations . According to him, he was accused of serious criminal offences, ranging from unlawful possession of firearms, killing and selling human parts allegations he categorically denied, insisting he is a pastor with several other portfolios in the Christiandom

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Pastor Nwankwo said officials at the Force Headquarters in Abuja eventually questioned both parties before allowing him to return home. However, he alleged that his troubles continued, leading to fresh arrests and an ongoing court case.
According to him, during one of the court sittings, his lawyer successfully challenged claims that he had jumped bail after the presiding judge reportedly ruled that no valid hearing date had been fixed by the court.
The pastor maintained that the dispute remains before the court .

Despite this he alleged that he continues to receive threats because he refused to support either side in the family conflict, insisting he is a pastor,spreading the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ .
Amidst tears, Pastor Nwankwo appealed to the Federal Government, security agencies, human rights organisations and well-meaning Nigerians to intervene, insisting that his only offence was choosing peace over violence.
“I have suffered arrests, detention and threats for standing for peace. I only want justice and protection for my family,” he said.
The allegations contained in this report have not been independently verified. Efforts to obtain responses from the individuals mentioned were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report. The matter also remains before the court.

Another man undergoing same ordeal with the pastor over the same land dispute is one Mr Chimezie Elekwa from Umuezem Nkpa community . He said he has faced worse persecution over the land dispute .

According to him , he became involved when he returned to his village Umuezem Nkpa to request for his father’s portion of land. This request he said gave birth to crisis in his life. First he lost his father and his wife in mysterious circumstances suspected to be poisoning and he once narrowly escaped death through same poisoning . He said he survived after battling for his life in the hospital where he underwent series of surgical operations .

Mr. Elekwa made it clear that he is tired of the persecutions and threat to life as such he is no more interested in the land dispute, so should be left alone to live a free life like other citizens of the country rather than perpetually live in fears .

Attempts made to reach Chief Imo Nwankwo mentioned in the land dispute proved abortive . He earlier promised to visit the press in Umuahia but did not show up on the agreed date even as he stopped picking his telephone calls .
End .