Members of Faith Builders Ministry, a
Pentecostal church located in Calabar Municipal Council of Cross River State,
have been thrown into mourning following the death of their pastor and founder,
Rev. John Ene-Obong, who was killed last Monday by irate youths over a land
dispute in Ikot Ene-Obong community.
Ene-Obong, who reportedly returned to
Nigeria from Canada barely a week before his death, was killed alongside two
others whose names were given as Effiong Koko-Ette and Victor Ene-Boco.
PUNCH Metro gathered that the disputed land belongs to the family of
the slain pastor.
It was further learnt that the pastor
and two others might have been killed to avenge killing of one Eton, who was
killed on the same farmland.
Eton, our correspondent learnt, was
accused of maiming another man identified simply as Effiong.
Effiong, who was said to be a victim
of the protracted land dispute, has been amputated on one of his legs following
injury sustained when he was shot.
On the latest killings, a source told
our correspondent that the pastor went to inspect the land in company with the
two other victims when they were ambushed and killed.
Residents of Ikot Ene-Obong community
and its environs are now living in fear following the war of attrition the land
dispute had caused among members of late Chief Ene-Obong’s family.
It was learnt that the land dispute
had polarised the family and factions within Ene-Obong’s family now resorted to
use of thugs to intimidate one another.
A member of the family and former
chairman of Calabar Municipality Local Government Area, Mr. Willy Okokon,
confirmed the pastor’s death.
He said it was painful and
unfortunate the way things had turned out, adding that the family would soon
come out with burial plans.
When contacted, the state Police
Public Relations Officer, Mr. John Umoh, said six persons had been arrested in
connection with the killings.
Umoh, who stated that investigation
was ongoing on the matter, however, added that the principal suspect was still
at large.
He said, “The state Criminal
Investigation Department has taken over the matter. Six persons have so far
been arrested in connection with the killings.
“There is one principal suspect that is
still at large. However, those arrested are still in our custody and we will
not release them until investigations have been concluded.”